Govt launches more projects amid opposition’s criticism

PML-N leader says attempt to manipulate LG polls will backfire

LAHORE:

As the Punjab local government elections have already been delayed on the pretext of coronavirus induced lockdowns, the ruling party has increased the pace of development schemes ahead of polls despite strong criticism from the opposition.

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar in his recent visit to South Punjab laid foundation stones of multi-billion rupees worth development schemes, including a new campus of University of Engineering and Technology in Multan, new buildings of South Punjab Secretariat in Multan and Bahawalpur, hospitals and roads.

Similarly, Punjab Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, while addressing party workers in NA-129 and PP-158 last week, highlighted that construction of Zarar Shaheed Road with an estimated cost of Rs160 million was underway besides millions of rupees development schemes in different areas of the PP-158.

Punjab Minister of Industries and Trade Mian Aslam Iqbal, last week, inaugurated various development schemes worth millions of rupees in his provincial constituency. Addressing a public gathering in PP-151, he highlighted as per the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the PTI government was not only construction roads but also building hospitals, educational institutes, playgrounds, parks and other public welfare projects.

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-i-Azam (PML-Q) has also started promising party tickets to the newcomers. In a recent meeting, PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujjat Husain welcomed former MNAs from Sara-e-Alamgir Malik Muhammad Haneef and Malik Jamil in the party fold. The party also announced that Haneef will be PML-Q’s candidate for the slot of Tehsil Nazim.

While Punjab Assembly Speaker and PML-Q senior leaders Chaudhry Parvez Elahi has announced that his party will participate in the local government elections. He has instructed party workers to become active in all districts in preparation of local government elections.

As per a recent briefing, at least over 1,800 development schemes were underway in Lahore Division only, including 765 in Lahore district, 481 in Sheikhupura, 464 in Kasur and 120 in Nankana Sahib.

Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) Lahore President Azizur Rehman Chan said the government has appointed its puppets on the key posts in the civil bureaucracy to get favourable election results. While Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Lahore President Pervaiz Malik said multi-billion rupees development schemes have been kick-started in the almost all parts of the province to tailor upcoming local government elections’ results. He warned that any attempt to engineer local government elections by stealing public mandate would backfire and people of Punjab will have to pay its price.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2020.