Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. PHOTO: ASIM SHAHZAD/EXPRESS
LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has accused the previous government of bringing the country on the verge of bankruptcy with ‘loot and plunder’.
The criminal negligence of the previous government plunged the country into darkness, he said while addressing PML-N’s provincial parliamentary party meeting at the Chief Minister’s Office on Friday. He was referring to the chronic energy crisis which, he said, the incumbent government is committed to addressing on a war footing.
Unfortunately, when the country was plagued by a debilitating power crisis, the machinery for Nandipur power project was left to rust at Karachi port for three years, he said and credited the incumbent government for reviving the dormant project. “The project has started producing 100 megawatt of electricity within a short span of seven months,” he added. However, he regretted that the delay cost the national kitty an additional Rs27 billion.
The chief minister said that after coming to power, the PML-N realised the severity of the crisis and chalked out a comprehensive plan to tackle the power crisis. Coal-powered projects have been started at Port Qasim, Gadani and Sahiwal, while Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park is being set up in Bahawalpur.
The Chinese leadership has reposed full confidence in the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and “gifted Pakistan an investment package of $32 billion” over the next seven years, he said. Out of this, $20 billion investment will go to the power sector which will generate 20,000MW of electricity.
The chief minister said the development goals could not be achieved without rooting out rampant corruption in the country. “It’s high time we purged the country of this menace.”
The chief minister said the government would have to put in place such a system whereby the yawning gulf between the haves and have-nots is bridged – and every citizen has access to basic necessities of life. “ Coming to South Punjab, he said billions of rupees have been set aside in the provincial budget for the development of this region. The government plans to start the longest metro bus service in Multan – and over Rs30 billion has been set aside for this purpose.
highlights
The GDP growth rate will gradually be increased to 8% in next four years, and next year GDP target is 5.5%
Four million jobs will be created in next four years, which would pull around seven million individuals
out of poverty
Two million youths (male and female) will be imparted technical training in next four years and Rs6 billion has been allocated in the next budget for the purpose
Welfare and developmental projects worth Rs263 billion launched or being launched in southern Punjab,
representing 36% of developmental budget
The PML-N government has initiated 19 energy
projects during last one year. Rs31 billion has been
set aside for the energy sector
Proposal for 16% increase in the police budget from Rs70.51 billion to Rs81.68 billion to effectively cope with terrorism and other crimes.
Rescue 1122 service will be extended to 12 more
tehsils of the province in the next financial year
Under the public health engineering sector, Rs17.11 billion has been earmarked for drainage and drinking water schemes.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 14th, 2014.
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