Next govt will present budget for 2018-19, says Shehbaz

–Lambasts Imran, Zardari at Khanewal rally

–Vows to transform Sindh into Punjab, Karachi into Lahore

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said that the government was presenting the supplementary budget for the financial year 2017-18 and the next government would present the new budget.

Presiding over a meeting of the Punjab cabinet, the chief minister said the Punjab government had spent resources on public welfare while considering the exchequer a sacred trust and added that welfare of the masses had always been given preference. “Punjab government has saved billions of rupees through its transparent policies and the saved amount has been spent on public welfare.”

He said that judicial e-stamp papers programme was a revolutionary step having far-reaching impacts and due to it, billions of rupees had been deposited in the kitty during the current fiscal year. The chief minister said that resources would have to be further expanded for the welfare of the common man and nations did not progress by borrowing money from others. “It is only the self-reliant nations that move forward,” he added.

“I want my nation to stand on its own feet and all of you have to follow the golden principles of hard work, honesty and trust as Allah also helps those who work with sincerity,” said Shehbaz. He expressed the satisfaction that important reforms had been introduced in the health and education sectors by tremendously enhancing their budgets and said that public service was his core mission that would be continued with speed and efficiency.

The chief minister also appreciated the performance of Provincial Finance Minister Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, the chief secretary, P&D chairman, Finance secretary and others and appreciated the hard work of Provincial Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir, Health Secretary Ali Jan Khan and his team for improving the primary and secondary healthcare sector. The meeting also appreciated the performance of PRA chairman and IDAP CEO.

Earlier, the meeting gave approval to the supplementary budget and revised estimates for the financial year 2018-19. The meeting also approved revised annual development programme 2017-18 along with approving the minutes of 31st meeting of Punjab cabinet and approval of decisions of the 55th meeting of the cabinet’s Standing Committee on Finance and Development.

Separately, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz said, “Imran Khan is the chief of liars. All he does is throw allegations at others. He has ruined Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Asif Ali Zardari has ruined Sindh, looted the farmers.”

Addressing a rally in Khanewal on Monday, the Punjab chief minister trained guns at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Zardari.

He remarked that Imran only told lies and staged sit-ins. “They both have wasted time of the people. Imran rushes to the mountains when dengue [virus] hits KP,” he said and vowed to transform Sindh into Punjab, and Karachi into Lahore.

“Vote for PML-N, and I will make Karachi just like Lahore,” said Shehbaz.

Highlighting PML-N’s developmental work in the region, Shehbaz told the public that a state-of-the-art hepatitis clinic had been built in Khanewal and new CT scan machines had also been installed in the local hospitals.

“Patients can access free treatment without needing to go to Multan. We will also build a medical college here if the PML-N comes into power once again,” said the chief minister.

The PML-N leader further pointed out that 10,000MW of electricity had been added to the national grid over the past four years.