Punjab provides 50,000 vehicles to unemployed youth

• CM Sharif says while culture of merit, transparency being promoted under leadership of PM Nawaz Sharif, some politicians misguiding people by telling lies

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the provincial government has achieved another milestone by distributing 50,000 vehicles on merit among unemployed youth under the Self-Employment Scheme worth Rs 31 billion.

Addressing a ceremony at the conclusion of distribution of vehicles among unemployed youth at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Sharif said that this scheme had provided livelihood to 0.3 million persons and recovery rate on these vehicles was about hundred per cent.

He said that while those great Pakistanis who earned their living through hard work and honesty repaid their loans, those who had assets of billions of rupees, offshore companies, palaces and factories got their loans waived off. He said that it was a grave injustice to the nation.

Sharif said that such elements would have to be brought to justice as they had indulged in loot, corruption and got loans of billions of rupees waived off and brought the country to the verge of bankruptcy. He said that Punjab and the federal government had set an example by saving Rs 215 billion of the nation.

He said that some politicians had also told lies about the Orange Line Metro Train project and they should remember that the nations were not built on allegations and falsehood. He said if those politicians had any evidence they should go to the court and prove the charges.

He further said that a politician who had recently performed Ummrah alleged that Rs 430 million had been spent on a house in Murree while it was a fact that this place was not a private residence of anyone but this sum was being utilised on the Governor’s House in Murree.

The chief minister said that it was an important day in the history of the province as a milestone had been achieved through distribution of 50,000 vehicles among unemployed youth. He said that these vehicles had been given on merit and in a transparent manner. He said that a sum of Rs 31 billion had been spent on this scheme, adding that loan for this scheme was given by the Bank of Punjab while the provincial government was bearing service charges.

He said that a sum of Rs 40,000 per vehicle was saved as a result of negotiations with the company due to which a saving of Rs two billion was made. He said that spare parts of the vehicles were imported from Japan and full benefit was taken of the decrease in the value of Japanese currency against rupee and thus Rs 50 crore were saved. He said that a total of Rs 2.5 billion were saved in this scheme.

The chief minister further said that culture of merit and transparency had been promoted in Punjab and credit for this went to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government. He said that under the leadership of PM Sharif, work was being carried out on public welfare projects in the country and Punjab round the clock.

Sharif said that being humans, there could be mistakes; however, every penny of public money was being spent honestly on welfare of the masses.

He said that allegations and lies could not make the nation strong, adding that it was the responsibility of leaders to tell the truth instead of misguiding the masses. He said that this was the time for unity and to serve the country. He said that media had the right to criticise but it should also appreciate good work. He said that corruption and plunder should be brought to the notice but public welfare work should be appreciated for promoting awareness among the people.