Daily Times

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) government had been serving the public selflessly for the last nine-and-a-half years.

In a meeting with Minister for Human Rights Mumtaz Ahmed Tarar, MNA Moeen Watto and MPA Khalid Mehmood Cheema here on Saturday, the chief minister said that the dharna group had wasted time of the nation.

In a veiled yet apparent reference to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the provincial chief minister said that people knew that those playing negative politics had done nothing for their welfare in the province they are in power. He added that so-called torchbearers of change had been exposed and the people would reject their negative politics in the 2018 elections.

The CM went on to say that the development in Punjab was known to everybody and progress had become identity of the PML-N government, adding that all projects had been completed with transparency and top quality had been ensured in all mega development projects. “The Punjab government has saved billions of rupees in all mega projects.”

Shehbaz said the provincial government was working to ensure equal development in all cities. An organised programme of cleanliness was being implemented across the province, he added.

He said promise of providing international standard medicines in government hospitals have also been fulfilled and the installation of CT-Scan machines has been ensured at all DHQs.

The chief minister said the service delivery has been improved due to reforms in education, health and agriculture reforms, adding that the PML-N government has credit of ridding the nation of load-shedding.

He said that the PML-N government had dedicated all its effort for the welfare of the people and added, “We have to work with honesty and determination to make Pakistan the country that was dreamt of by Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal.”

Shehbaz said the PML-N government attached top importance to the public service due to which its every term reflected unprecedented progress and development. “On the other hand, the performance of the dharna party in public service is zero and it has done nothing other than raising slogans, claims and carrying out dharnas,” he added.

Separately, the CM strongly condemned the unprovoked firing by Indian forces at the Line of Control (LoC) in Nakyal sector

He expressed grief and sorrow over the death of a civilian in the firing and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family.

Shehbaz said targeting of civilian population by Indian forces was highly condemnable, adding Pakistani forces had full capability to give a befitting response to the Indian aggression.

Meanwhile, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique called on the chief minister and discussed matters pertaining to overall political situation in the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Shehbaz said the current situation in the country required tolerance and patience, and the journey of development and prosperity should not be derailed.

Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique was also present on the occasion.

In yet another meeting with Pakistan Air Force Air Vice Marshal Aamir Masood, the chief minister said that Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was equipped with professional capabilities and was ranked among best air forces in the world.

He said that the whole nation was proud of brave soldiers of the air force.

Published in Daily Times, February  25^th 2018.