Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shahbaz on Friday said that in the last three months, the history of Pakistan, especially Punjab, has undergone immense political and constitutional ups and downs. The constitutional havoc played is unparalleled in history as the custodian of the house violated the law.
“I salute assembly members, allies and independents. I am also grateful for the courage shown by the deputy speaker and government officials performed their duties and carried out the court decision. People waited for the budget for 48 hours but their ego and stubbornness bulldozed everything. During the three months, we fought against illegal and unconstitutional tactics and took every step under the constitution and law,”he said while addressing the budget session of the assembly.
Hamza said that despite the absence of a cabinet, wheat was subsidized to the tune of Rs.200 billion and a ten kg flour bag is being provided at Rs.490 in every district which is Rs.160 cheaper than the market. He said that those who spoke of a bloody revolution entered Punjab with the armed police of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. We had given rubber bullets to the Punjab police.
He said that there was chaos behind the politics of this man who was descanting the allegation of conspiracy. Sometimes, he attacks the institutions and sometimes, he attacks the country. His politics revolves around ‘if I didn’t come.’ A person sitting in the Presidency has played the role of a follower of Imran Khan. He has not obeyed the constitution and the law. In history, Arif Alvi would be remembered as the constitution-violator president.
The CM said that the health card scheme was started by PMLN and we are further improving the health card. The rich also benefit from it even though they have resources for their treatment. The chief minister announced that from July 1st, free medicines would be available in DHQ and THQ hospitals of 36 districts in Punjab while cancer medicines would also be available free of cost. He said that the cameras of the Safe City project in Lahore would be made functional and this project will be expanded to the whole of Punjab. “I was told that a block for former CM was being developed at Punjab House Islamabad,” he said and added that this former CM approached the high court for security and perks. 30 per cent of CCTV cameras of the safe city remain out of order for three and a half years but you didn’t care for the safety of the people, he regretted.
He said that eight thousand kilometer-long farm-to-market roads would be rehabilitated at a cost of billions of rupees. The farmers would also be given interest-free loans. He said that PKLI is a flagship project of PMLN and doctors came from the USA for the project but they were humiliated here and now, again, we have approached these doctors.
This project, costing billions of rupees, will be restored to its original state in a few months, he added. The former government promised to create south Punjab province but did not take any action. Our government has allocated 240 billion rupees for south Punjab which is 35 per cent of the development budget. More resources will be provided for the development of south Punjab, he assured. When there was a famine in Cholistan, I myself went to the affected areas and along with the people of Cholistan, water was also provided to the animals. Solar water plants will be installed for the population of Cholistan. There will be separate sheds for animals and AC sheds would be erected for the locals.
The government had procured five million metric tonnes of wheat and provided full compensation to the farmers for their labor. The wheat support price would be announced in time so that the farmers could sow wheat on a large scale.
The chief minister said that the laptop scheme was being revived for the youth of Punjab. He said that Rs.50 billion was being allocated for the construction and repair of intra-district roads and high quality of roads would be ensured. He said that the building of the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority was kept on hold for three and a half years which resulted in the loss of Rs.3 billion due to an increase in construction cost.
The building will be made functional in a few months and will inaugurate the project.
The Violence against Women Center in Multan remained closed for many years and the staff were not even paid their salaries, he regretted.