By Muhammad Hamza Khan
Good governance is represented by personified virtues of honesty, transparency, effectiveness and inclusiveness as described in the international development literature relating to the conduct of public affairs and management of public resources. This definition fits Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif perfectly, who is considered a symbol of good governance. He is committed to do his best with the resources available and deliver to the people of Punjab in an equitable manner.
His detractors often accused him of putting more infrastructure development effort in central Punjab, as they did not understand the simple point that people of northern and southern Punjab come to Lahore in large numbers because of the employment opportunities. Subsequently, the city has become crowded, therefore it was imperative to provide facilities so that people of other parts of Punjab can also benefit.
Shehbaz Sharif announced new projects amounting to billions of rupees, besides inaugurating foundation-laying of different mega projects for the development and prosperity of the people of southern Punjab. He inaugurated the project of Dera Ghazi Khan-Muzaffargarh Dual Carriageway in separately held ceremonies in Dera Ghazi Khan and Muzaffargarh, respectively.
He also announced to start metro bus service in Dera Ghazi Khan, the establishment of wards for kidney and heart diseases in DG Khan Teaching Hospital and the establishment of the solid waste management company to improve the sanitation system. He announced the project of dualization of 90-kilometre long Muzaffargarh-Head Panjnad Road, besides announcing to establish a campus of Bahauddin Zakariya University in Muzaffargarh. He promised that metro bus will soon run in Muzaffargarh as well.
Moreover, the chief minister has saved billions of rupees by ensuring transparency in the development projects. A few opposition leaders still alleged that he had taken kickbacks in Multan Metro project. However, the Chinese government termed this allegation as a blatant lie.
A mega project of providing clean drinking has been devised to start from southern Punjab and earmarked Rs. 15 billion for the project. The survey has been completed in tribal areas and contracts would be signed with the companies in November and December this year to implement this programme.
Daanish School has been set up in DG Khan, while the construction work has been started in Taunsa to set up another Daanish School. The fact remains that Daanish Schools are knowledge-based institutions where the children of poorest of the poor families are given quality education free of cost.
He said that the Punjab government has spread a network of development schemes in less-developed areas. The Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Programme has revolutionised the village-life.
The PML-N government has also seriously worked for the elimination of energy crisis; the energy production has been started with the completion of 1320 megawatt coal-based power plant in Sahiwal and gas-based power projects in Jhang, Bhikeki and Baluki.
Shehbaz Sharif expressed his determination to collectively work to make Pakistan an economic power, as the countries that were behind us in development have surpassed us.
Shahbaz Sharif is workaholic and works very hard to serve the people of Punjab. He is acknowledged as a good administrator even by his detractors.
He had proved his mettle not only during his first stint as a chief minister of Punjab in the 1990s but also after assuming his office second time as the CM following February 2008 elections.
During his present term, he does not seem to be relenting in his efforts, as he does not want to live on his past performance. He is keeping a vigilant eye on the performance of all the departments to solve the problems of the people and ensure good governance. He has taken measures to reform the police, health, livestock and other departments to ensure good governance in Punjab. It is worth mentioning that in his previous tenure he had almost eliminated the crime of spurious medicines, and now once again he vows that there will be no mercy for fake drug dealers.
