People of Punjab are the main target of loadshedding:Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore:Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that energy crisis has badly affected industrial, trade, agriculture, education, health and other social sectors and the federal rulers will have to give up their loot, corruption and lavish expenditure and spend national resources on the projects of power generation so that the dying industries could be revived. He said that people of Punjab are the main target of loadshedding due to which industrial and trade activities have slowed down while unemployment has increased in the province. He said that traders are the backbone of national economy and their problems would be resolved on priority basis. The Chief Minister constituted a committee headed by Member National Assembly Pervaiz Malik which will submit its report within a week regarding problems of industrial estates, establishment of new industrial estates, inspection of factories, energy crisis, provision of land for the offices of the chambers, setting up of reconciliation committees and other problems of business community. The committee will comprise industrialists, traders and government officers

He was talking to the presidents and office-bearers of the chambers of commerce and industries at Minar-e-Pakistan camp office today. MNA Pervaiz Malik, Vice Chairman Punjab Investment Board Mufta Ismael and secretaries of various departments were present. The traders informed the Chief Minister about their problems relating to inspection of industries, energy crisis, labour, law and order, security and expensive electricity. Talking to the representatives of traders and industrialists, the Chief Minister said that mal-intentions and corruption of the rulers at the federal level have plunged the country into various crises and it is passing through the most critical phase of its history. He said that everyone is upset and worried over the loadshedding. He said that in order to promote provincial harmony and national solidarity, Punjab surrendered 11 billion rupees from its share for the approval of National Finance Commission Award. Still, he said, a highly unjust attitude is being shown to industrialists, labourers, cultivators and the people of the province with regard to loadshedding. He said that he has set up his camp office under the shadow of Minar-e-Pakistan as a protest against the discriminatory attitude being adopted against Punjab over the issue of loadshedding. He said that he will continue to raise his voice for the rights of the people of Punjab. He said that Pakistan is a poor country and cannot afford wastage of resources. He said that there is a need to bring a change in attitude and adopt the values of honesty, commitment and hard work to put the country on the road to progress and prosperity. He said that Punjab government has adopted the policy of simplicity and austerity in the province and by curtailing non-developmental expenditure, additional resources are being utilized for the provision of facilities to the masses. He said that poverty gives rise to crime and law and order situation. However, Punjab government has adopted an effective strategy to maintain civic peace and provide security to the business community, he said. He said that Punjab government is also working on power generation projects expeditiously. He said that projects of generation of energy from coal are bring set up at Lahore and Faisalabad industrial estates and 50MW power would be produced from each project.

Presidents of chambers of commerce and industries and traders’ representatives while expressing their views said that Shahbaz Sharif has proved himself to be Khadim-e-Punjab by sharing the problems of the people affected by load shedding and the traders and business community pay tributes to the Chief Minister for this spirit. They said that Chief Minister Punjab has always paid special attention to the problems of traders and business community for which he is held in great esteem. The delegation also gave proposals regarding energy projects.