LAHORE: The government is focusing on completing ongoing development projects in a transparent manner, Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif He was talking to Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayyaz Sadiq and Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq, who called on him. During the meeting, different issues including senate elections, political matters and development programs came under discussion. Speaker National Assembly and Railways Minister congratulated the Punjab Chief Minister over the unprecedented savings of Rs 682 billion in different projects. On the occasion, Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that journey of public welfare and development was being moved forward speedily. “Resources are a sacred trust of the people and every penny is being spent for the welfare of the masses. It is heartening that a saving of billions of rupees has been made in development projects through the policy of transparency and efficiency. It is sanguine that our development projects are an example of their own with regard to quality and transparency and a new record has been set in the national history by making a saving of Rs 682 billion in different schemes. The government has also spread a network of farm-to-market roads and infrastructural developments in the province. The Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project is of prime importance in the transport sector as hundreds of thousands of commuters will daily ply through this train. Instead of making hollow claims, we have initiated practical steps for development and prosperity because development process cannot be ensured through hollow slogans but change is ensured only through public service. Punjab enjoys a conspicuous status in the arena of development while the performance of so-called claimants is evident before the people. The performance of criticizers of others is zero in their province, he added. These elements have only done the negative politics of falsehood and baseless allegations. The people will never forgive those who only took U-turns, lied and leveled allegations for four-and-a-half-years. In fact, people will altogether reject those who have raised hollow slogans and remained involved in negative politics. Public service is my mission and it will be continued indefinitely,” he said. Shehbaz Sharif said that there could be no other priority than welfare of the people adding that nothing could stall the speedy journey of development in the province. “Development in different sectors, including health, education and infrastructure, is an example of its own and records have been set by completing the development projects within the stipulated period of time. Meanwhile, Punjab is leading in effective utilization of information technology tools and people have been provided best services by promoting information and communication technologies in public sector departments. Elimination of loadshedding is the historic achievement of Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz government. The darkness of loadshedding, which was earlier spread everywhere, has been eliminated and the commitment and hard work, with which energy projects have been completed, have no resemblance in the 70-year history of the country. Despite hindrances created by some political elements, energy projects have been completed in a record period of time and due to it, loadshedding has become a thing of the past. We have given priority to public service, instead of indulgence in the politics of lies and baseless allegations, and all our steps have targeted public welfare and prosperity of the masses. The sit-in party only did the politics of lies and baseless allegations, and instead of solving the problems of the people and bringing prosperity in their province; it remained engrossed in the habit of mendacity. He said that past rulers did not take any step for overcoming the energy crisis and due to plunder and corruption of these rulers; the country was made a hostage to the darkness. The corrupt and defeated elements even tried to delay energy and other public welfare projects and today, these elements are shameful of their deeds,” the CM said. The chief minister said that Imran Niazi had wasted precious time of the nation with his negative politics of sit-ins and lockdown. “How will these elements face the people who have shown worst performance in their province? People will hold accountability of these elements in the next elections adding that people never forget the persons who have served them. The people will decide the fate of those who have served them with the power of their votes in the elections of 2018 and they will also decide about the elements that obstructed the journey of development. Liars have no value before the PML-N’s politics of public service. The days of the elements engaged in the politics of lies, chaos and hypocrisy are numbered. This poor nation has to pay the price of agitation and sit-ins. The symbols of the politics of sit-ins, agitation and chaos will be paid in the same coins in 2018. Imran Niazi has set world-record of speaking lies and allegations-leveling and the conscious people of Pakistan are fed up with the deceit and blame-game of this leader. Published in Daily Times, February 10th 2018.