Aleem vows to complete previous projects

Says the govt will try its best to solve “inherited problems”

LAHORE:  

Punjab Senior Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Provincial President Abdul Aleem Khan said that no project, including the Orange Line Train, would be rolled back.

He said despite issues over payments by the previous government and an empty exchequer, the current regime would try its best to find a solution to “inherited” problems.

“Even if the present government does not initiate any new projects in the next four years, it will be very difficult to complete previous ones,” he stated while talking to a foreign broadcasting agency in an interview.

Abdul Aleem Khan said PTI was unlike PML-N’s Shehbaz Sharif who closed down projects of previous governments just because they did not bear his “nameplate”.

He added that PML-N looted the national kitty and earned billions in the name of mega projects. The senior minister stated that despite reservations over prevalent corruption, the money spent on these projects was that of taxpayers. “We think it is our responsibility to complete these projects as early as possible.  To roll them back permanently will be an injustice to national resources,” he asserted.

He added projects like Bhikki Power Plant had proven to be white elephants for the national exchequer and were overfunded to fill personal pockets. He said sectors like education, health and clean drinking water were of great importance to the common man, but remained neglected. He said there would soon be startling revelations about the Saaf Pani Project and how it was used to benefit the Sharif family alone.

Answering a question, the senior minister said that new local government system would try to uplift people on the grassroots level and their problems would be resolved locally. He said representatives would have full administrative and financial autonomy, but would be held accountable through a proper checks and balances system. He outlined that the system would involve accountability under 10 large and reputable audit companies.

He said it was the first time in the history of Pakistan that the local government was being given such administrative powers.  Responding to another question, the minister said that the whole nation was looking towards Punjab for change and implementation of the 100 Days’ Plan would be a model for other provinces. He said that he had been given a responsibility which would be fulfilled according to the aspirations and needs of the people. “The team of Prime Minister Imran Khan is working selflessly to achieve its goals so that the common man gets relief at the earliest” Abdul Aleem Khan concluded.