Government has completed development projects of Rs.260 billion:Shahbaz Sharif

Bahawalpur: Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the Pakistan Muslim League-N government has completed development projects of Rs.260 billion during the last five years in South Punjab which are six times more than the Pervaiz Elahi’s era.

He was addressing laptops distribution ceremony among more than four thousand male and female students at the auditorium of Islamia University Bahawalpur, today. The Chief Minister said that Punjab government has spent Rs.111 billion in education sector throughout the province whereas previous government spent only eleven billion rupees. He said that investment of Rs.50 billion has been made during last five years in Bahawlapur Division under which Daanish Schools in Rahim Yar Khan, Chishtian, Hasilpur, women colleges, flyovers, mobile hospitals, network of roads, 410-bed District Headquarter Hospital Bahawalpur and other welfare projects have been completed.

Addressing male and female students, Shahbaz Sharif disclosed that laptops worth Rs.8 billion have been distributed among two lakh and twenty five thousand students on merit during last two years, out of which if only five percent became Arfa Karim, the destiny of Pakistan will change. He said that the investment on youth will create a new Pakistan and these students will develop a formula of eliminating corruption through these laptops so that Zardari should know that we have changed the darkness spread by him into light. Shahbaz Sharif said that all projects including Metro Bus System of international standard, laptops, Ujala Programme and solar energy system, have been presented to Transparency International for impartial audit. He said that if corruption of even a single penny is proved, he and all government departments will be accountable to the nation. He said that PML-N government with the collaboration of Germany has started a 400-MW solar energy project with an investment of 1.5 billion dollars in Cholistan which will start production within one and a half years. The Chief Minister questioned federal government that if provincial government can take steps for elimination of loadshedding with foreign investment for the welfare of the masses then was it sleeping after taking opium during the last five years which destroyed the economy and put the nation into darkness. He said that youth are builders of the nation and these shining stars will bring the country out of darkness and restore its image in the comity of nations by taking correct decision in the coming elections.

Shahbaz Sharif further said that the development projects which were launched in Punjab were started in Bahawalpur which proves that our government has paid special attention to South Punjab. He said that it is a good omen that today 4,322 laptops would be distributed out of which three thousand are female students. He said that Zardari government made our government beggar, gave darkness but we would change this darkness into light. He said that the young male and female students are shining stars and builders of the future therefore, they should not be disappointed. He said that today we should make a pledge that such leadership would be elected in coming election which would break the begging bowl and be answerable to the people. Provincial Minster Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar, Member National Assembly Baleegh ur Rehman, Saud Majeed and Jahanzeb Waron also addressed the public meeting. Earlier, Vice Chancellor Islamia University Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar presented address of welcome. Members National and Provincial Assembly Baleegh ur Rehman, Saud Majeed, Jahanzeb Waron, Raiz Pirzada and Begum Perveen Masud Bhatti were present on the occasion. At the end, the Chief Minister distributed laptops among male and female students.

Later, the Chief Minister inaugurated Civil Hospital completed at a cost of rupees three billion. Addressing on the occasion, he said that this hospital equipped with latest treatment facilities is a gift for the people of Bahawalpur. He said that every penny looted by Zardari and his cronies will be recovered. Shahbaz Sharif reiterated that if an opportunity was given, Nawaz Sharif and his government will eliminate darkness. The Chief Minister also distributed allotment papers under Katchi Abadi Small Garden Scheme in the public meeting. After public meeting, the Chief Minister laid foundation stone of Aashiana Housing Scheme in Bahawalpur. He also inaugurated Drug Testing Laboratory, constructed at a cost of Rs.4.5 crore in Bahawalpur.