LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appealed to all leaders and office-bearers of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to avoid criticising state institutions. In a statement issued on Saturday, the chief minister said that Pakistan could not afford confrontation among institutions. Separately, taking to PML-N parliamentarians, who called on him here on Saturday, the chief minister said that all-out resources were being utilised for speedy progress of the province and prosperity of the people. He said that mega projects had been completed in the province at a cost of billions of rupees and each and every penny was being spent in a transparent manner on public welfare and provision of basic facilities to the masses. Shehbaz said that transparency, quality and speed were hallmark of development projects. A new example has been set in the history of the country by saving billions of rupees in development projects, he added. He said that all development projects were being completed at fast pace. The chief minister said that merit was the only way to achieve the destination of speedy progress and prosperity and that was why the Punjab government had implemented the policy of transparency and merit and promoted merit in every sector. Referring to the Kissan Package, the chief minister said that the package had laid the foundation of revolution in agriculture sector and unprecedented measures had been taken for the prosperity of small farmers and development of agriculture sector. Recalling the government’s “achievements” in the health sector, the chief minister said that effective measures had been taken for eliminating heinous trade of spurious medicines and state-of-the-art drug testing labs had been established in the province. The chief minister said that billions of rupees were being spent every year for provision of free medicines and all schemes in health sector were being completed at a fast track. He said that effective steps had been taken for eradication of hepatitis and scope of hepatitis filter clinics was being expanded to all districts. Meanwhile, a team of dengue experts had been sent to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after reports of dengue spread in the province. The team comprising four entomologists and a mobile health unit had been dispatched to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Earlier, the chief minister had offered support to the KP government to combat dengue. Published in Daily Times, August 20th , 2017.