Firm stance: PM tells party confab he won’t resign

PML-N leaders review state of development projects, rehabilitation of flood victims

ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday renewed a pledge to ignore isolated calls for his resignation and instead work for development and progress, drawing upon the five-year mandate handed by the masses to his ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N).

He made these remarks at the party’s consultative meeting – which was attended among others by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

The meeting reviewed in detail development projects, rehabilitation of flood victims and the programme for providing financial assistance to the calamity-hit people.

Calling “welfare and betterment” of people the agenda of the PML-N, PM Nawaz said that development projects are being fast tracked for the benefit of the masses. “No hurdle can hamper the process of national development,” he said.



The premier said that no effort would be spared during the PML-N mandate for the uplift and prosperity of people. Already he said the government was engaged in steering the country out of crises and putting it on the road to progress and development.

Leaders of the ruling party say they are pleased by the progress seen so far  by three major projects, including Azadi Chowk Flyover, Ghazipur Chowk and Qanchi Interchange.

By the end of December, the Punjab government will complete the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Project, the premier was informed. However, another metro project in Multan is expected to take much longer.

Shahbaz, while speaking on the occasion, said that development projects are being completed speedily and transparently in the province while a third-party audit system has also been introduced for the effective monitoring of the projects. “Development schemes have been completed in a record period in Lahore and other areas of Punjab.”

Half of the financial assistance earmarked for flood victims has been provided by the Punjab government while the remaining half was offered by the federal government.

The premier was also briefed that the process of rehabilitation and payment of financial assistance to the flood victims will be completed at the earliest.

PM Nawaz appreciated the Azadi Chowk project and lauded the performance of the LDA director general. Railways Minster Khawaja Saad Rafique, MNA Hamza Shahbaz, Punjab chief secretary, head of the planning and development department, Lahore division commissioner and other concerned officers were also present on the occasion. 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2014.