Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Tuesday said the government will continue to execute development projects for the welfare of masses.
He was addressing a ceremony in connection with inauguration of Metro bus service in Multan. Nawaz Sharif said the politics of Pakistan stood changed today and only those parties filled with the spirit of serving the nation would survive in the political arena. The prime minister regretted that some elements wanted to create obstacles in the way of progress and development.
Nawaz Sharif said expanding the network of metro bus would provide modern transport facilities to the commuters. He said some parties made big slogans of carving out new Pakistan but modern transport facilities were not available in the province governed by them.
“We are not here for any political rally, we are here to give you your rights,” the PM said, to a loud applause from the audience. Taking aim at his opponents, he asked, “Where is ‘Naya Pakistan’?” “Come to Multan if you want to see ‘Naya Pakistan’”, he said, adding that no one had thought of initiating the metro project in Multan before.
“Those who are abusing and taking part in dharnas should first see what they themselves are doing,” he said. “The day is not far when their own secrets and actions would be exposed in front of the whole world,” he added.
Nawaz Sharif claimed that 10,000 MW electricity would enter the country’s system this year. He promised the government would end load-shedding by 2018 and claimed that factories that would supply power were being set up all over Pakistan to provide electricity to the masses.
He promised a health scheme for the impoverished people of Pakistan, claiming that the scheme would be made available to the whole country. Nawaz assured the people that once the health scheme was launched, it would ensure that parents would not have to withdraw their children from schools or sell off their assets to ensure their children are provided adequate medical treatment.
The prime minister also took a ride in the metro following the inauguration. The 18 kilometer long track will begin from Bahauddin Zakariya University and end at Kumharan Chowk connecting 21 stations — of which 14 are situated at flyovers while seven are located on land routes. The project was completed at a cost of Rs 28.88 billion.
Authorities claim that in its first phase 35 buses will operate on the route providing transportation to 95000 people every day.
He also congratulated Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his team for completing the project in minimum possible time of 18 months and termed it a highly laudable step.
Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif said the project was part of vision of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in which he believed that roads and communication networks were the key to success of every nation.
He said it would help in spread the pace of progress to every nook and corner of the country, save time and enhance economic activity. Shahbaz Sharif said even the critics of the Lahore-Islamabad motorway now acknowledged its benefits.
He said Rs 4.5 bln were spent on the acquisition of land for the project out of Rs 28 bln cost of the project. He said the prime minister has to his credit a string of development projects spanning across the country that were aimed at generating electricity, storing water, building roads and infrastructure.
He categorically stated that the government was completing the projects with full transparency, without even a penny of corruption. He said it was time that those who were trying to hide behind the Panama issue, should stop deceiving the people and start acknowledging the development works undertaken by the PML-N government.
