CPNE see all good in Punjab , flatters CM and his team

Lahore : Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that providing excellent services to the people is good politics and public service is pivot of our politics.

He expressed these views while talking to a delegation led by President Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) Zia Shahid.

The Chief Minister said that he has no care for the opponents and he only cares for the poor and can sacrifice his life for the poor and can spill the last drop of his blood for them. He said that Supreme Court has not given any final verdict about Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif however a mechanism has been evolved for answers of some of questions.

He said democrat, legal and constitutional process is that this process should move forward so that everything becomes crystal clear. He said democratic system always faces challenges and unfortunately martial laws have been imposed in the country for four times and now when the train of democracy is heading towards its destination, all stakeholders should discharge their duties with responsibility.

He said those holding sit-ins conspired against the progress of the country and prosperity of the people in 2014 and caused the postponement of the visit of Chinese President. He said if Chinese President had arrived Pakistan in 2014, many development projects could have been completed and same elements later tried to push the country backward through lockdown.

He said the leader who is leveling allegation of Rs.10 billion offer has made record of lies and such falsehood does not suit to status of the leader of a party. Shahbaz Sharif said that allegation of Rs.10 billion offer is totally baseless and fabricated, and he will send him legal notice soon.

The Chief Minister said in that 1930, his father and brothers worked hard in a factory and established a big institution like Ittefaq Foundry. This institution also fulfilled defense needs in 1965 and 1971 wars, but unfortunately Ittefaq Foundry was nationalized in 1972 during Bhutto period and the payment of not even a single penny was made, he added.

The Chief Minister said his elders had not lost courage when factories of 32 families were nationalized in Bhutto period and all these people had left Pakistan and started their businesses in foreign countries but his family decided to work hard in Pakistan and established factories during that period.

He said in 1979, Ittefaq Foundry had been returned to them again and payment of even a single penny was not made and the institution which was established by his father was nationalized in a second. He said during the government of Benazir, a ship was stopped for one year and that institution was damaged, and during Musharraf government, their family was mistreated again. He said history proved that unfairness had been done to his family. He said the journey that was started in 1930 is the story of courage and determination. He said those who are making hue and cry of Panama should not forget unfairness done to his family and elders of his family have served this country.

Answering the question of a journalist, the Chief Minister said that his role is positive in Dawn leaks and God willing good results will be visible soon. Answering another question, he said NEPRA should work as an independent regulatory institution and he only opposes its wrong work and mismanagement, and the common man should get benefit from this institution.

Shahbaz Sharif said Pakistan is consisted of Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkwa, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, and will progress when all of its federating units will make progress. He said if Punjab makes progress and other provinces and units do not progress then it will not be progress of Pakistan.

He said Balochistan is our dear province and we have always taken care of it and there is no delay on our part in the construction of Cardiology Hospital Balochistan and Balochistan government has to choose the piece of land for it. He said Punjab government has included boy and girl students from all provinces in its educational scholarship programs and thousands of students from Balochistan are benefiting from these programs.

He said under NFC Award, Punjab is giving Rs.11 billion annually to Balochistan from its share and during the last seven years; an amount of Rs.77 billion has been given to Balochistan to meet its needs. He said people of Punjab are happy that they are giving their share for the promotion of provincial harmony and brotherhood. He said Rs.77 billion is a small amount; we will not hesitate from giving Rs.700 billion for the strengthening of Pakistan.

The Chief Minister said that CPEC is a game changer and it will change the destiny of the region. He said name of Nawaz Sharif will be remembered forever regarding CPEC. He said PTI had wasted nine months through sit-ins and it has also caused delay in CPEC and this party did propaganda against CPEC that this is not investment but loans.

The Chief Minister said that he has clarified that China is making investment of billions of dollars in Pakistan under CPEC, out of which, 33 billion dollars are being spent on energy projects. These are not loans but hundred percent Chinese investments, therefore propaganda against CPEC should be buried forever, he added.

He said Pakistan is lucky that investment of billions of dollars is being made by China as a result of which lakhs of new job opportunities are being created.

Shahbaz Sharif said that completion of energy projects will result in uplift of industry, agriculture and trade sectors, strengthening of economy which will directly benefit common man as more public welfare projects are set up with increase in national income. He said that Sindh province will benefit maximum from CPEC as more investment is being made here and we are happy upon it. He said that 1320 MW Coal Power Plant will be inaugurated during current month and added that environment friendly modern technology has been used in this project. He said that super critical boilers have been used in this project.

The Chief Minister said that speedy completion of energy projects is unprecedented and billions of rupees of the poor nation have been saved in energy projects.

Replying to a question, Shahbaz Sharif said that he used to protest peacefully against load-shedding during the period of Peoples Party and comparison of present circumstances with that of peoples party era is no way correct as currently energy projects of thousands of megawatt are being set up. He said that 1180 megawatt gas power project has been completed in 18 months in Bhikki which is a world record. He said if someone wants to use hand fan, he has no objection.

The Chief Minister said he is proud that he protested peacefully during energy crisis and did not tried to ransack, lockdown or shutter down or closing Pakistan and now tremendous efforts have been made under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for the elimination of energy crisis.

He has no objection if someone copies him and use hand fan but they should remember that  only these people have pushed the nation into darkness and on the other hand, a political party delayed energy projects through sit-ins.

Shahbaz Sharif said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, PML-N leadership has written a new history by completing Bhikki Gas Power Plant in a record period of 18 months while 1320 MW Sahiwal  Coal Power Plant will also start production of electricity during the current month.

Replying to another question, the Chief Minister said that special attention has been paid to the development of south Punjab and a mega programme of provision of Saaf Pani is also being launched in its 37 Tehsils during current year. Clean drinking water will become available to the people of South Punjab due to this project of billions of rupees, he added.

Answering a question regarding Zardari, the Chief Minister said that Neelum Jhelum Project was started with Rs. 80 billion in 2002 and Rs. 500 billion have been spent on it up till now and despite passage of a long period of 18 years, not a single kilo watt electricity has been generated through this project.

He said that Musharraf, raising the slogan of Pakistan First is responsible of delay in this project but now under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, this project is in final stages of completion. On the other hand due to the greed of Peoples Party Ministers, machinery of Nandipur Power Project rusted for three years at Karachi Port and this project was started without tendering process is an open proof to corruption of Peoples Party, he added.

Shahbaz Sharif said that those talking against transparency and corruption should also see their attitude. He said that another Kichi Canal example is also before us. This project was started with Rs. 31 billion and 57 billion rupees have been spent on it and not a single drop of water has been provided from this project so far to Baluchistan, he added.

He said that Pakistan has been put on the road to progress, by steering it out of crisis, under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. Members of CPNE delegation appreciated justified policy of distribution of advertisements and transparent process of payments of Information Department of Punjab and presented a thanksgiving resolution to the Chief Minister regarding defensible policy of distribution of advertisements.

Expressing views on this occasion, Members of CPNE delegation said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Information Department has evolved a justifiable system of distribution of advertisements and the system of payments of advertisements is also very timely and effective. They said that the system of distribution of government advertisements of Punjab government is also free from bribe.

They said that Punjab government under the leadership of Shahbaz Sharif is ahead of other provinces in every field and his performance is exemplary.

President CPNE Zia Shahid said that no province of Pakistan has made such a timely and transparent system of payments and distribution of advertisements. He said that Shahbaz Sharif has a kind heart towards common man.

CPNE paid tributes to Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Information Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman and Secretary Information Raja Jahangir Anwar. Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman, former president CPNE Mujeeb ur Rehman Shami, Special Assistant Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, Press Secretary Shoaib Bin Aziz, Chairman Taskforce on Information Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, Secretary Information Raja Jahangir Anwar and concerned officials were present on the occasion.

President Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Zia Shahidand and other members of his delegation praised transparent and fair policy of distribution of ads and payments by Punjab Information Department.

CPNE President Zia Shahid also presented a resolution of thanks to the Chief Minister for transparent and fair distribution of ads and payments and a quick mechanism in this regard.

Speaking on the occasion, CPNE President Zia Shahid said that Punjab Information Department has made fair system of distribution of ads and payments of ads is also effective and speedy. He said under the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif, the system of ads distribution is free from bribes and its credit goes to Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Information Minister Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman and Secretary Information Raja Jahangir Anwar.

He said such fair and transparent system of ads distribution does not exist in any other province of Pakistan, and office-bearers and members of CPNE outside Punjab have also seconded this approach.

The CPNE delegation said Punjab province under the leadership Shehbaz Sharif is ahead of other provinces in every field. The delegation said performance of Shehbaz Sharif is exemplary and he has a kind heart for the common man.

The CPNE paid tributes to the Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Information Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman and Secretary Information Raja Jahangir Anwar.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister said that praise of policies of transparency in Information Department is an honour for Punjab government and he congratulates Information Minister Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman, Secretary Information and their team.