Pakistan will be made a strong economic power: Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that people have given mandate to Pakistan Muslim League-N to change Patwari and Thana culture, eliminate corruption and resolve energy crisis and it will come up to the expectations of the masses. He said that country will be steered out of the quagmire of problems and put on the road to progress and prosperity. He said that power will be used to provide justice to the weak, uphold rights of widows and orphans, supremacy of justice and eradication of crime.

This was stated by him during separate meetings with Members Punjab Assembly belonging to Bahawalpur and Multan divisions at 90-Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam. Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah Khan, Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, Iqbal Channar, Khalil Tahir Sindhu, Ch. Muhammad Shafique, Dr. Farrukh Javed, Asif Saeed Khan Manais, Tanvir Aslam Malik, Chief Secretary, IG Police, Secretaries of various departments, administrative and police officers of Bahawalpur and Multan divisions were also present on the occasion. Assembly Members apprised the Chief Minister of development schemes and problems of their respective areas and he issued on the spot orders in some cases.

The Chief Minister said that local bodies’ elections will soon be held after consultation with the party and such a local government system will be introduced as will empower the masses and their problems will be resolved at the local level. He said that the energy crisis being faced by the country has badly affected national economy, industries, agriculture, education, health and other sectors.

Shahbaz Sharif said that coping with the energy problem is a big challenge and PML-N government is taking measures on war footing to resolve this crisis. He said that the government will diffenately succeed in ridding the masses of energy crisis with the consultation of assembly members, experts and its tireless efforts.

Shahbaz Sharif said that the historic mandate given by the nation to PML-N demands that no effort should be spared in the service of the people, resolving problems of the masses and raising their living standard. He said that provincial ministers, assembly members and officers serving the people are our pride whereas those who have no interest in this regard have no right to stay on their posts. He said that people of south Punjab have also ensured victory of Muslim League-N with thumping majority and rejected corrupt elements.

The Chief Minister said that people of South Punjab have remembered the public service of PML-N during floods and repaid it with its glorious victory. He said that solid measures are being taken for the development of health, education and infrastructure in south Punjab and compared to its 31 percent population, 32 percent development funds have been allocated for this region. He said that missing facilities will be provided in all schools of South Punjab within a year.

The Chief Minister further said that political and economic deprivations are not the destiny of the country and Pakistan will be transformed into a prosperous and developed country through collective wisdom, tireless efforts and commitment. He said that the course of the history can be changed by adopting the virtues of simplicity, honesty and hard work. He said that the culture of austerity has been started by curtailing the expenditure of Chief Minister Office and maintaining the ban on the purchase of new vehicles.

Shahbaz Sharif said the nefarious trade of spurious medicines and water theft will be completely eliminated and even toughest decisions will be taken for this purpose. He said that PML-N leadership is determined to make Punjab a model province while the country will be strengthened politically and economically. He said that good governance will be promoted in Punjab and practical measures will be taken for providing excellent services to the people.

The Chief Minister said that land record computerization project will be completed by 2014 at any cost and Punjab will be the first province of Pakistan where this project will be completed. He said that completion of this splendid project will rid the people of Patwari culture. He said that police stations will be made a source of justice for the people and redressal of the grievances of the aggrieved. He said that such an atmosphere will be created in police stations that no citizen will be afraid of visiting police station for solution of his problems.

Shahbaz Sharif said that sub-inspectors will be recruited on merit through Public Service Commission and posted at police stations after special training. He said that corruption will be rooted out and no corrupt officer will be tolerated in any department. He said that there is a need to launch a collective struggle for elimination of corruption and every member of the society will have to play his due role in this regard. He said that a strict system of accountability will be introduced and no corrupt element would be able to escape punishment. He said that dealing with the problem of energy shortage is a big challenge which the government has accepted and it is making efforts for overcoming this problem.

The Chief Minister said that all out resourcse will be provided for resolving energy problem and the projects of generation of energy from alternative soruces such as biomass, biogas, hydle power and coal will be completed expeditiously. He said that the main cause of energy crisis is the circular debt of Rs. 503 billion, power theft of Rs. 207 billion, nonpayment of electricity bills by government and private institutions and line losses. He said that Punjab government will play an active role for controlling power theft and the elements involved in such activities will be dealt with iron hand. He said that though subsidy on the electricity is the right of the poor but the rich are also benefitting which is injustice. He said that if the leadership resolves to serve the masses day and night, no hurdle can be insurmountable while if honesty, sincerity and austerity are not adopted, disaster will be inevitable.

Shahbaz Sharif said that Allah Almighty has given opportunity to PML-N to change the destiny of the masses and improve their living standard and practical measures will have to be taken by benefitting from this opportunity. He said that PML-N has also received a glorious success in Multan division of South Punjab while dishonesty and corruption has been defeated. He said that after historic victory, greater efforts will have to be made in service of the people. He said that national resources are sacred trust and will have to be utilized only on the welfare and uplift of the masses.

The Chief Minister said that elected representatives will ensure transparent use of funds and he is confident that due to its sincere efforts, PML-N will receive an even bigger mandate after five years. He said that every moment is precious and duties will have to be performed for the betterment of the nation without wasting time. He said that there are examples that defeated nations have become strong economic force through education, hard work, determination and Pakistan can also become a strong political and economic force through honesty, commitment and hard work.

Provincial ministers and assembly members congratulated Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on presenting a balanced and public-friendly budget and said that credit goes to Chief Minister who allocated a huge amount of 93 billion rupees for the development of South Punjab. They said that they are grateful to the Chief Minister for allocating 32 percent of development budget for south Punjab compared to its 31 percent population. They said that people consider PML-N leadership as their messiah.

They expressed the hope that Chief Minister Punjab will succeed in implementation of his agenda of public service and solution of their problems. Assembly members assured the Chief Minister that they will play a vigorous role in furthering his vision.