‘By-polls have shaken federal govt’

LAHORE:

Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi claimed on Tuesday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had been trying to destabilise the Punjab government but the recent by-elections' results had shaken his own rule at the centre.

The chief minister was addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Shahkam Chowk Flyover project.

The CM alleged that since Shehbaz Sharif became the Prime Minister, he had been busy destabilising the Punjab government, but the results of the by-elections were in front of everyone.

"The results have shaken Shehbaz Sharif and the federal government," he said.

The chief minister said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Democratic Movement appeared clueless about what they should do now.

He said the PML-N was involved in encroachment and it had engaged people suitable to promote this agenda.

The CM alleged that the PML-N was doing politics over wheat.

He said the prime minister's enmity with the people of Punjab had come to the fore as the federal government had provided wheat to all the provinces except Punjab.

"The federal government is neither giving wheat to Punjab nor allowing us to import it," he said.

The chief minister said the federal government had to pay dues of Rs170 billion to Punjab, but the payment had been withheld.

"The PML-N is openly hostile to Punjab and in these circumstances, how do they ask for votes from the people of Punjab? We are going to the Supreme Court against the behaviour of the federal government," he announced.

The chief minister said Shahkam flyover project would save travel time and facilitate citizens. The cost of the project is Rs3.91 billion and the three-lane, dual-way flyover is 606 metres long. It will provide a signal-free corridor facility for about 120,000 vehicles daily.

The initial estimated cost of the construction was Rs4.23 billion, thus Rs314 million has been saved in the project.

He claimed that PM Shehbaz Sharif had abandoned the Al-Mubarak Centre project like other welfare-oriented schemes. A five-star hotel and a rooftop food court as big as a football ground will be built in the centre.Traffic problems will be avoided by connecting Al-Mubarak Centre with the Qaddafi Stadium through a tunnel. Parking for 7,000 vehicles will be available at the place, he remarked.

The chief minister said a patrolling post and Rescue 1122 centre would be built for the housing societies adjacent to Shahkam Chowk. The money required for building these facilities would be taken from the owners of the housing societies.

He said the private housing societies did not lay sewerage systems, which created problems. The private housing societies must ensure the provision of sewerage, road and other facilities in their schemes before advertising them, he said.

Notices will be issued to the housing societies to develop sewerage and other facilities before construction. Private housing societies are being given a week in this regard, he added and warned that action will be taken against societies that would not comply with the instructions.

He said the societies should provide facilities to clients from whom they were earning money.

The chief minister said the land transfer fee had been slashed drastically for the convenience of the citizens.

The reduction in transfer fee is improving the property business, he added.

The chief minister said work had been started on the Ravi Urban Development Authority and Central Business District projects as per the vision. of former prime minister Imran Khan.

He said the Lahore master plan had also been approved to deal with the rising population and traffic problems.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2022.