Pakistan is about to become a developed state : PM Nawaz Sharif

Lahore : Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Friday said the government’s consistent journey of economic stability and development had panicked the Opposition, which had sensed its political demise in 2018’s general election. “Pakistan is about to become a developed state and the same is worrying the Opposition, knowing that its politics will meet its end if the government’s successful journey continues uninterrupted till 2018,” the Prime Minister said while addressing a public gathering here at the Qila Ground.

The Prime Minister, who arrived here on a day-long visit to lay foundation-stone of project of gas provision said the people realized that which political party had in fact taken steps for their prosperity.
“By Allah’s grace, Pakistan Muslim League-N will come into power in next general polls and will continue its agenda of serving the masses,” he told the audience chanting slogans in support of the party.

Nawaz Sharif said the provincial government of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa claiming to ‘bring a change’ never focused its energies on the uplift of the province. “In my view, there should be a ‘change’ in KPK and we
are going to bring that real change based on development,” he said.

The Prime Minister announced a development package for Kohat including projects of gas provision, highways and roads,a hospital, railway service and a university’s campus for women. He performed ground-breaking of the gas project costing Rs 3.9 billion, which will benefit the locals of Kohat,
Khushal Garh, Shairkot, Alizai, Nusrat Pur, Dhoda and Chorluki.

He said a highway to be constructed from Kohat, Jand and Pindi Ghaib would link to motorway, reducing the travel distance up to Islamabad and Peshawar. Also, Kohat-Karak-Sarai Gambela road would be expanded and would also touch motorway, he added.

He mentioned that Chairman National Highways Authority had been directed in this regard and the construction would start soon. The Prime Minister announced to set-up a state-of-the-art hospital in Kohat, where the poor patients would be treated free-of-cost.  He also announced of setting up a women campus of Kohat University in the city.

The Prime Minister said a rail-car service would be initiated on experimental basis from Rawalpindi to Kohat and vice versa. He announced grant of Rs 200 million and Rs 100 million for Kohat’s district and tehsil councils, respectively.

Nawaz Sharif said no government in the past ever considered on launching these development projects for the people of Kohat. He said the country today was making rapid progress and mentioned that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would usher in an era of prosperity in the country.

The Prime Minister vowed to completely end the power loadshedding by 2018. He said terrorist incidents in the country had reduced to a large extent and paid tribute to the sacrifices of armed
forces, police, administration and the nation. He said efforts were in progress for the rehabilitation
of displaced persons of the North Waziristan military operation.

Nawaz Sharif said the world was acknowledging the economic turnaround of Pakistan, adding that the recent appreciation by head of International Monetary Fund (IMF) was a compliment for the country.     He said the development projects would end poverty and bring opportunities for the youth in the country.