It is time that priorities shifted in favour of the poor people, many of whom cannot afford to travel in buses.
ISLAMABAD: During the recent inauguration of the Metro Bus Project in Multan, Mr Shahbaz Sharif announced that the government has allocated Rs30 million for this project which is to be completed by August 14, 2015. The Punjab chief minister also approved a two-lane highway from Dera Ghazi Khan to Forte Munro and from Dera Ghazi Khan to Muzaffargarh. But when the chief minister was asked about the halting of previous developmental projects in Multan, he was unable to give a satisfactory reply and merely stated that the projects were initiated without adequate planning.
Indeed, these new plans by the current government are to be appreciated but they do not give any quick relief to the common man who is putting in all his blood and sweat in the effort of fulfilling the basic necessities of his family. It is, indeed, quite sad for many of us to see that our tax money is going into projects which are only beneficial to a very limited class of people. Mr Sharif, at the same event, announced that the government is ‘considering’ building a cancer hospital in Multan. Although this does sound like good news, the welfare of the masses can only be secured if the government prioritises the essential needs of the public at large over bus services. It is time that priorities shifted in favour of the poor people of this country, many of whom cannot afford to travel in buses.
Mujtaba Sohail Raja
Published in The Express Tribune, June 9th, 2014.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
