We have to set example of good governance:Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that due to politics of public service, Pakistan Muslim League-N has got historic mandate and now it has to set new records of public service. He said that we have to set example of good governance and ensure the rule of law. He said that new examples of hardworking, trust, honesty and simplicity have to be set.

The Chief Minister said that we have to come up to the expectations of the people of Pakistan as they have reposed confidence in the leadership and policies of PML-N. He said that the excellent success of PML-N in general elections is unprecedented in the history of the country.

Shahbaz Sharif said that due to exemplary performance during the last five years, people have given full mandate to PML-N. He said that if we decide to fully implement the agenda of progress and prosperity of the masses, no hurdle can stop to change the destiny of the province. He said that he will march forward in consultation with the members of Punjab cabinet and serve the masses round the clock. He said that the performance of provincial ministers will be reviewed on monthly basis and only those ministers will remain in cabinet who will show best performance and serve the people sincerely. He vowed that neither corruption was tolerated earlier nor will be tolerated in future.

He was addressing the first meeting of Punjab cabinet at Committee Room of Civil Secretariat today. Provincial Ministers, Special Assistants, Advisor, Chief Secretary, Chairman Planning & Development, Acting Inspector General Police and Secretaries of various departments attended the meeting.

Congratulating the cabinet members, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that we also bow before Almighty Allah Who bestowed us respect and historic mandate once again. He said he has no hesitation in saying that his previous provincial government made sincere efforts for resolution of problems being faced by the people, promotion of merit, elimination of corruption, poverty and unemployment in the province. He said that there are more problems than the resources but his government took concrete measures for resolution of these problems.

Shahbaz Sharif said that our service, transparency and policy of simplicity was before the people and they have given us excellent victory in the elections through their vote keeping in view our best performance. He said that negative propaganda was launched against us through billions of rupees looted through corruption, particularly, he was targeted in person. Shahbaz Sharif said that all parties criticized PML-N during elections. He said it was endeavor of these forces that PML-N should not get majority. He said that Allah Almighty foiled their nefarious designs and PML-N got thumping majority. He said that the entire nation was grieved over the incidents of terrorism during election campaign.

The Chief Minister said that although the law and order situation in Punjab was better yet Pakistan consists of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Balochistan, Gilgat Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. The Chief Minister said that if any untoward incident happens in any part of the country, it affects the entire country. He said that there were threats to the political leadership of PML-N during election campaign but despite these threats and dangers, we participated in public meetings and seeing the enthusiasm and courage of the people in public meetings, we were sure that PML-N will get unprecedented success.

Shahbaz Sharif said that we had put our lives in danger only to eliminate the obsolete and corrupt system from the country, police stations should be made a source of provision of justice instead of becoming the den of oppression and the people be rid of exploitation of patwari and tehsildar. He said that Allah Almighty has given us an opportunity to serve the people and we have to serve the masses as being their Khadim in the real sense.

Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif vowed that such revolution of public service would be brought in the Punjab province and the country as would be remembered by the people forever. He said that solid policies would be evolved for the progress of the people and improving their living standard. He said that if we march forward with hardworking, honesty and responsibly, we will succeed and Allah Almighty will bestow us further honor. He said that if we did not follow it, the people will forget us. While comparing the elections of 1997, 2008 and 2013, the Chief Minister told the ministers with arguments that the elections of 2013 were very important as on the one side there were billions of rupees of loot and plunder and on the other side, there was also a third force but in the elections of 1997 and 2008, there was no third force.

Therefore, comparing the elections 2013 with of 1997 and 2008 was not correct. He said that people have reposed their confidence in PML-N by rejecting those forces which is a clear proof of the love of the people and blessing of Almighty Allah for us. Shahbaz Sharif said that national institutions have been ruined and we have to not only restore these institutions through collective wisdom and joint efforts but also rid the people of problems. He said that if the leadership, political leaders, elites, investors, traders and other influential persons of the society set personal examples of simplicity and honesty, the society follows them.

He said that we have to reform the society through our deed and promotion of simplicity, eliminate safarish, nepotism, corruption and ensure the supremacy of law by implementing rules and merit. The Chief Minister said that 100 percent corruption cannot be eliminated even in civilized societies, however, it can be controlled through effective steps and rule of law.

He said that if Turkish Prime Minister can make Turkey a prominent country, we can also put Pakistan on the road to progress and prosperity. He said it is his belief that Pakistan can be taken to the heights of progress and prosperity through hard work, hard work and only hard work. He asked the provincial ministers to work hard and utilize all their energies for public service.

Shahbaz Sharif said that the performance of each ministry would be reviewed every month. He said that the existing shortcomings in the departments will be removed jointly. He said that provincial ministers and heads of the departments will have to play their role for achieving targets and come up to the expectations. He said it is the demand of the mandate given by the people that we should work round the clock and bring such changes in every sector as could provide relief to the people. He said that provincial ministers are completely empowered and he will evolve policies with their consultation.

He said that problems of the people will be resolved through commitment. Shahbaz Sharif said that people have lauded our previous five years’ performance and we will have to work with more devotion and sincerity in future. He said that transparency, merit and sincerity have rejected corruption and plunder. He said that new examples of governance would be set in Punjab.

He said that Allah Almighty has selected us for the service to the people therefore, we should serve them and instead of sitting in offices, should visit to the districts. The Chief Minister said that the ministers and the government have to come up to the confidence of the people as we have to march forward only through hard work and devotion. The Chief Minister said that we have to pledge today that we will set exemplary government in Punjab province, be ready to serve the people, make punctuality our motto, no one will be allowed corruption, safarish of police, patwari and tehsildar and bring revolutionary changes in education, health and other sectors.

Expressing their views on the occasion, provincial ministers said that they will come up to the confidence reposed by the leadership in them and will spare no effort in service to the masses. They assured the Chief Minister that they will extend complete cooperation for achieving the targets, completion of agenda and vision of public service.

They said that Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif is a brave leader and the team which has a brave leader, its soldiers are also brave. They said that they will work as soldiers of the Chief Minister and utilize all their energies for resolution of people’s problems. Provincial Ministers said that working under the guidance of a leader like Shahbaz Sharif is an honor for them and they will learn a lot from him.

They reiterated that they will play their due role in the construction of Pakistan. Chief Secretary Punjab said that all the secretaries have been directed to fix targets of a year and they will have to show their performance for achieving these targets.