Drawback: Sit-ins disrupted country’s progress, says Shahbaz

Turkish ambassador, K-P governor calls on chief minister

LAHORE:

Last year’s protest rallies and sit-ins in Islamabad disrupted the progress of the country, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Wednesday.

He was talking to several Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) office bearers. “The sit-ins caused a huge loss to the national economy. They delayed the implementation of energy and infrastructure projects which were to be executed with the cooperation of China. Thus, the progress of the country was disrupted,” he said.

He said efforts were being made for the implementation of the agreements and the projects signed during the visit of Chinese president to Pakistan. “Pakistan will be made an Islamic welfare state in accordance with the vision of its founders. A new journey of progress and prosperity has started with the cooperation of China. Work will be carried out on a war footing for the timely completion of the development projects,” he said.



The chief minister said that several energy projects were being set up by the government with its own resources. “The Quaid-i-Azam Solar Park is the first and the biggest solar project in Pakistan. It was completed at a rapid pace. It has started generating electricity,” he said.

“A culture of merit and transparency is being promoted in the province. Billions of rupees are being spent on the welfare of the masses and on provision of education, health and other facilities to the citizens,” he said.

He said that availability of potable water will be ensured in all tehsils of the province under the Saaf Pani Project.

He further said that 50,000 vehicles were being distributed among unemployed youth under the Apna Rozgar Scheme. “This project is an example of transparency and merit. Rs15 billion is being spent during the current financial year for the construction and rehabilitation of the roads in rural areas under Khadim-i-Punjab Rural Roads Programme. Billions of rupees will be provided for this project in the next fiscal year. The project will be completed by 2018,” he said.

Turkish ambassador meets CM: Turkish Ambassador S Babur Girgin met Sharif in Islamabad. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Abbasi was also present on the occasion. Bilateral relations and economic cooperation between the two countries was discussed.

The chief minister mentioned that a hospital had been constructed in Muzaffargarh with Turkish help. “All possible facilities will be provided to Turkish investors in the Punjab.

The process of development in the province is continuing with cooperation and collaboration of Turkey. The people of the Punjab are proud of their friendship with their Turk brethren,” he said.

Girgin said that ties of friendship, cultural and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Turkey were strengthening. Abbasi said that there were vast opportunities and scope for Turkish investment in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2015.