LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has congratulated Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the verdict of the Supreme Court and said that another conspiracy of opponents has failed, just like the sit-in and picketing plan went in vain.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the CM said that those who were against Pakistan’s development and prosperity of its people had faced disappointment. He said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, led by Nawaz Sharif, would not only honour all its promises made to the people but also win the elections in 2018 with their support and complete development agenda.
Earlier, the CM inaugurated Wheat Harvest Campaign 2017 at Fatehpur village of Kasur using a traditional sickle and later by a harvester. Talking to the media on the occasion, he said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif-led PML-N government had protected farmers’ interests and would continue to do so in the future as well.
The CM said that he was monitoring the wheat procurement campaign and “won’t allow anyone to exploit farmers”. He expressed gratitude to Allah Almighty and applauded farmers whose diligent work and devotion had resulted in an incredible yield of wheat this year. He said that Kisan Package worth billions of rupees, introduced by the government, had provided special subsidies to cultivators, due to which “best wheat crop was acquired”.
He said that the cultivators had bad yields of potatoes, rice and cotton a year ago, but to mitigate their sufferings, the premier had ordered to give fertilisers and power to the farmers on subsidised rates.
Shahbaz said that the Punjab government had shared 50 percent of the expenses on the federal government scheme of providing subsidy on fertilisers. He said that the Punjab government also started implementation of Interest-Free Loan Scheme for cultivators who owned minimum 12 acres, which was a landmark in the province’s history.
He said that cultivators had been deprived of any such privilege in the past, as banks used to give loans only to industrialists, investors and the rich. He also said that steps were being taken to bring in fresh seeds for increasing cotton production.
He directed the provincial minister and food secretary to ensure protection of interests of cultivators and said that no complaint regarding supply of gunny bags should be received. He ordered strict disciplinary action against individuals attempting to usurp farmers’ rights.
“The Punjab government has fixed a target to buy four million tonnes of wheat this year from the local cultivators” despite the fact that the department concerned had additional reserves of grain.
Responding to a media query regarding Panamagate case, the CM said, “We are a civilised nation and will respect verdict of the court.” He said that history was witness to the fact that in the tenure of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, cheapest and quickest electricity projects were being initiated. He said that gas power projects of 3,600MW had saved Rs 112 billion; something a corrupt person could never even dream of doing.
He added that 1,180MW gas power project at Bhikki had been inaugurated the other day after 18 months of its start, and was now producing 717MW electricity, which was a true precedent of transparency and high speed. Comparing it to the Guddu Gas Power Project of the PPP government, he said that the project was double in cost and completed in six years.
He said that those involved in negative politics needed to mend their ways, as people were well aware of the fact that Nawaz Sharif had set new records of transparency and speedy completion of projects. He said that contract of Nandipur Power Project was given without any tender notice and Rs 6 billion of the nation were plundered ruthlessly, which were lying in Swiss banks. It “is enough to prove the worth of those before the public who are currently giving lectures on decency and trustworthiness”, he said.
He said that Nawaz Sharif was a prime minister and would surely be a premier tomorrow, as he “is an iron-will man” who went ahead with the decision to carry out nuclear test despite all pressure.
To another question, the CM said that people today were levelling false allegations against the PML-N with a specific end goal of concealing their corruption.
He said that Nawaz Sharif, who had been elected Punjab’s chief minister twice and was now serving as the prime minister, had played an incredible role in attracting $51 billion under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which also depicted confidence of China in Pakistani leadership.
He said that the premier would next month inaugurate the 1,320MW Sahiwal Coal Power Project, which was being set up under the CPEC. He said that energy projects of the incumbent government would end the energy crisis by the beginning of the next year.
