Saleem Saifullah Khan,Hafiz Abdul Karim and Marvi Memon calls on Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that those staging sit-ins have not only caused serious setback to the process of progress of Pakistan but also shown their enmity to the country. He said that sit-ins have resulted in huge economic loss to the country.

He was talking to Senator Saleem Saifullah and Member National Assembly Marvi Memon who met him, here today. The Chief Minister said that it is time for unity and not to divide the nation. He said that those engaged in sit-ins have caused an immense loss to the country and their real face has been exposed. He said that the nation will never forgive such elements as have hampered the process of progress and development.

He said that due to sit-ins, the visit of Chinese President has been postponed during which agreements for investment of billions of dollars were to be signed and soft opening of several projects was to be made. He said that politics of chaos and sit-ins has wasted the efforts of the government for the last more than one year. Shahbaz Sharif said that the time wasted due to sit-ins will be made up with hard work and commitment. He said that country will be steered out of the quagmire of problems through hard work and struggle under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and will again be put on the road to progress. He said that the recent flood has caused huge losses in Punjab. He said that Punjab government, provincial ministers, elected representatives and other institutions have played a key role in help and assistance of calamity-hit people.

He said that first phase of distribution of financial assistance among flood affectees has been completed successfully and the second phase will start from October 20 after assessment of losses in the light of survey. He said that flood affectees will be compensated of their houses, crops and livestock while financial assistance will also be given to such people who lost their means of livelihood. Shahbaz Sharif further said that reforms are being introduced in police system for changing thana culture. He said that a system of self-accountability from the highest to lowest level is essential. He said that the system should deliver in accordance with the aspirations of the masses.

He further said that monitoring system at district level is vital for provision of best facilities to the citizens. He said that the country will be brought out from all crisis under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. He said that cruelty and injustice to the people will not be tolerated in the form of property tax and action will be taken against those who have included some rural areas into the list of rating areas. He said that all issues pertaining to property tax will soon be resolved. Matters of mutual interest, political situation and efforts for rehabilitation of flood affectees were discussed in the meeting.