LAHORE: Elements defaming the parliament must be condemned, Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday. He was talking to Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, who called on him. During the meeting, various matters, including the political situation and promotion of inter-provincial harmony, came under discussion. Both the leaders condemned the elements that have defamed and denigrated the parliament and reiterated their commitment to continue working jointly for the strengthening of democratic system in the country. Talking on the occasion, the chief minister said that parliament was a respected national institution and the democratic forces were duty bound to ensure its prestige and honor. “The patriotic people of Pakistan will hold these elements accountable that are responsible for defaming the parliament. Personal interest has no value before the national interest and the hidden agenda of political elements seeking anarchy is not hidden. Elements that have sown the seed of the politics of disunity have left no stone unturned to ruin the country,” he said. “Pakistan came into being through a democratic process. Democracy is the name of public service and people cannot be served through hollow slogans or empty claims of change. For that, one has to work really hard to achieve the goal. Every political party is duty-bound to work for the strengthening of democracy because national development and prosperity lies in democracy. Pakistan belongs to all of us and everyone should play its role for national development. Pakistan needs unity and cohesion than ever before, concluded the chief minister,” he said. Development: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting on Friday to discuss development schemes. The meeting examined the steps taken for overall development of the province including provision of better services and promotion of good governance at the grassroots. Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that far-reaching reforms had been introduced in public sector departments by dexterous use of information and communication technologies. “Due to it, service delivery mechanism as well as efficiency and efficacy of public sector departments had been improved. Meanwhile, composite development of remote and far-flung areas has been given due importance and mega projects of billions of rupees have been completed,” he said. “The mission of providing better services to the people has been accelerated with commitment and dedication. Merit has been promoted in every sector and recruitments have been made purely on merit and competence. Correct and transparent use of resources has been ensured as well and different schemes have been completed which have provided direct benefit to the masses. Our efforts for overcoming the energy crisis have been successful and load-shedding has been eliminated due to the completion of energy projects. The national economy has directly benefitted from the ending of the energy crisis. On the other side, the Punjab government has set a high example of saving of billions of rupees in energy projects and this money has been spent on the programs of providing relief to the people,” he said. He said that billions of rupees had been saved in the Chiniot-Rajwa project after a struggle spanning over four years. “The people have been given prompt relief due to our efforts taken for bringing improvement in social sector. Thousands of children of brick-kiln workers have been given an opportunity to study free of cost. More than 250,000 children of low-income families have been accorded an opportunity to study free of cost under Punjab Educational Endowment Fund. Published in Daily Times, January 20th 2018.