Daily Times

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday paid a surprise visit to the site of an under-construction warehouse at Quaid-e-Azam Interchange near Manawan, where a wall collapse claimed lives of seven workers, and sought details of the tragic incident.

He expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the death of labourers and offered prayers for the departed souls. Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that death of labourers due to collapse of an under-construction wall is tragic and Punjab government fully sympathies with the bereaved families. He said that despite a ban, construction of a factory and a warehouse in a congested area is a question mark on the performance of the concerned departments. He said that he had imposed a ban on construction of factories in populated areas a few years ago and the ban was openly violated in this case.

The chief minister avowed that those responsible would not be able to escape punishment, adding that he is deeply grieved over the incident and has come to the site to personally review the situation. He said that he has taken notice of this tragic incident and besides officials of departments concerned, action would also be taken against factory owner as per the law.

Shahbaz promised that all out efforts would be made for provision of justice to the families of the deceased and the persons responsible would be taken to task. He said that Punjab government would look after the families and the children of the deceased labourers, adding that law would take its course against the elements involved in illegal construction work.

The chief minister took strict notice of the construction of warehouse without permission and ordered immediate arrest of its owner. He said that the owner of warehouse would also have to pay a sum of Rs 3 million each to the families of deceased labourers. Shahbaz paid a detailed visit to the site of tragedy and inquired from the administration the details of the incident. He expressed extreme displeasure over the construction of the warehouse without NOC and reprimanded the officers concerned. He directed that necessary safety measures should be taken for the protection of life of labourers.

Earlier, the chief minister visited the site of the construction company working on Orange Line Metro Train project and expressing sorrow and grief over the death of labourers and prayed for the departed souls.

Visits PA: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif went to Punjab Assembly on Wednesday. He met assembly members in his chamber besides attended the session.

The chief minister remained in the assembly for two and a half hours. When he arrived in Punjab Assembly, parliamentarians warmly welcomed him and chanted slogans in his favour. Talking to assembly members in his chamber, the chief minister said that welfare of common man is pivot of politics of PML-N. He said that billions of rupees have been provided for welfare-oriented projects for the masses during the last three years. He said that new record of public service would be set under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during next two years.

Those who met the chief minister included Ali Abbas, Syed Hussain Jehanian Gardezi, Ch Sarfraz Afzal, Hanif Jutt, Rana Liaqaut Ali, Rana Muhammad Arshad, Shaukat Manzoor Cheema, Taufiq Butt, Saiful Malook Khokhar, Faizan Khalid Virk, Arshad Malik, Rukhsana Kokab, Dr Farzana Nazir, Shamim Akhtar, Salma Shaheen Butt, Nasreen Javed, Dr Najma Afzal and Fatima Fariha.