LAHORE: Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that national development and prosperity are the top priorities of his government. “Our past and present are witness to the fact that all our efforts are aimed at ensuring national development and prosperity. Pakistan today is much better than what it used to be a decade ago. We are moving speedily towards achieving the goal of a self-reliant, prosperous and economically-sustainable country,” he said in a statement issued on Monday. The Chief Minister said the governments of Pakistan Muslim League-N in the centre and the province had taken unprecedented steps to make the country economically self-reliant. “These efforts are unparalleled in the 70 year history of the country.” “Additional production of thousands of megawatts electricity and restoration of peace in the country are historic achievements of the PML-N which will never be forgotten by the nation,” he said, adding that ‘the people will always remember steps taken for development and prosperity during the PML-N rule’. CM Shehbaz Sharif said, “Punjab has emerged as a role model with regard to its immaculate development process for other provinces. The government has implemented its development agenda without caring for the elements engaged in negative politics and obstructing the process of development. The people will forever bury the negative politics of our opponents.” He said that those who had just contributing to increasing the problems of the people would have to be held accountable for their deeds. “The power-mongers trying to make it to the power corridors through back channels can never be sincere with the people and the masses will hold them accountable in the elections of 2018. “The poor performance of the so-called claimants of change is evident.” Shahbaz said the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been ruined in the name of change, adding that those criticising his government for setting up metro bus system were not even capable of designing the project now that they had finally started it in the KP as well. “They have dug up the whole city of Peshawar in an attempt to build the metro bus track.” He said elements that had remained engaged in sit-ins and lockdowns only would be hiding their faces from the people during the elections. The real faces of those who kept lying to the people in the last five years have been exposed before the people.” Referring to the PPP government in Sindh, Sharif said that the party given mandate in Sindh had done nothing for the people of the province. “Those who turned Karachi from the city of lights to a dumpster will be face defeat in the next elections. 2018 is a year of public accountability of those spent the last five years in just negative politics,” he added. He hoped that the PML-N would sweep the 2018 general elections based on its performance and public service record. “If Allah Almighty accorded us an opportunity to serve the public again after 2018 elections, we will continue development works with renewed zeal,” the CM said. Separately, the CM strongly condemned the terrorism of Indian army in occupied Kashmir. He expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the martyrdom of Kashmiri youth as a result of barbarity of the occupied Indian army. The CM expressed solidarity with the Kashmiri people and paid rich tributes to the great sacrifices of martyred youth of the occupied Valley. In a statement issued on Sunday, Sharif said, “Indian army has resorted to worst barbarity and savagery in occupied Kashmir.” He added that continued Indian atrocities have totally exposed the evil face of India’s sham democracy. Also on Monday, Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the murder of a six-year-old girl whose body was found dumped near Sabzi Mandi in Jaranwala. He sought a report from the Faisalabad CPO and directed the police to immediately investigate the matter and submit a report to him. Published in Daily Times, April 3rd 2018.