Making strides: Good governance has put economy back on track says CM

Shahbaz says transparency and expediency are hallmark of development projects.

LAHORE:

The government’s prudent policies have helped improve the national economy, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday

He was speaking to a delegation of National and provincial assembly members.

The chief minister said that the rupee had gained against the dollar and tax collection had increased since the government came to power last year.



“Overall national production has gone up, textile exports have increased by seven per cent and foreign exchange reserves have exceeded $14 billion,” he said.

Sharif said the government was doing its best to overcome the energy crisis. He said 1,700 megawatts had been added to the national grid in a short period while work had begun on 19 power projects to generate 24,870 megawatts. He said the foundation stone for several coal-fired and solar power projects had been laid. These include a 1,320MW coal-fired power project in Sahiwal and a 270MW power plant in Ruyi Masood Textile Park in Faisalabad. The Nandipur power plant has been made operational in Gujranwala; the project is currently adding 100MW to the national grid. The Quaid-i-Azam Solar Power Park in Bahawalpur has been inaugurated.

The chief minster said China had announced an investment package of $32 billion dollars for Pakistan. The money will be spent on energy, infrastructure and other sectors.

He said a comprehensive policy had helped the government execute development projects at a fast pace. He said transparency and speed were the hallmark of these projects.

“Even our opponents have been unable to accuse us of corruption of even a single penny during the last one year,” the chief minister said. He said the government believed that national resources should be spent on the welfare and betterment of people.

Sharif said those responsible for Tuesday’s unrest in Model Town would be brought to book. He said he respected the sentiments of the bereaved families and leaders and workers of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek.

The chief minister said he had made some tough decisions to ensure that victims of the carnage received justice. He said a judicial commission had been formed to probe the carnage in which at least 12 people were killed and 80 injured. Appropriate action would be taken in light of the commission’s report and those proved guilty would be punished, he said.

Sharif said he was accountable to the people of the province and that he had always stood with them in the testing times. “My track record vindicates my performance as chief minister. I never compromise on principles and justice,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2014.