Law ministry delayed Punjab power projects for bribe: Shahbaz Sharif

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has demanded strict action should be taken against those involved in increasing the crises of power, and pushing Punjab into darkness due to negligence and corruption in 900MW power projects in the province.
“Criminal negligence has been demonstrated in the power projects of 450MW each in Nandipur and Chicho Ki Malian, which is a deep conspiracy against Punjab and Pakistan. Due to delay in these projects, most areas of Punjab remained in darkness and industries were closed and now the nation has to bear additional expenses of Rs 20 billion on these projects,” he said, while requesting the prime minister to take those persons to task causing delay in these projects and deterrent punishment should be awarded to the criminals of the nation and should be hanged.
He was talking to mediamen here on Saturday on his return to Lahore from the Council of Common Interests meeting held in Islamabad the same day. Senior Advisor to him Sirdar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa was also present on the occasion.
Shahbaz Sharif warned that if action was not taken against these criminals of the nation, then he would be forced to raise voice at any forum against them.
While giving details about the projects, he said the power project of 450MW in Nandipur had to be completed a year ago and the machinery of this project worth billions of rupees was lying in the godowns of Karachi on which heavy demurrage was being paid. He mentioned that this project was being executed by Chinese company and it should have become operational in the beginning of this year but unfortunately it could not be made operational. “The file of this project remained pending in the law ministry for the last about two years and the desired letter could not be issued by the finance ministry due to bribe. The same situation is of the 450MW project of Chicho Ki Malian. This project had to be completed next year but this project has also been delayed for further two years due to criminal negligence. These projects remained pending due to the hurdles created by law ministry, and had these projects been completed within stipulated time, the Punjab would have got substantial relief from load-shedding,” he observed, adding that Punjab was made a target through delaying these projects due to which factories were closed and irreparable loss was caused to exports. “Not only huge loss was caused to the industrial and agriculture sectors due to the delay in these projects but lakhs of people were also deprived of their livelihood. Whom people of Punjab should hold accountable for this economic murder?” he questioned.
Shahbaz Sharif was of the considered opinion that investors and industrialists were transferring their capital and the country was being pushed into darkness under a conspiracy, which was a heinous crime. “The nation is in need of every watt of electricity whereas plundering and corruption is rampant in the country. A conspiracy has been hatched against agriculture, industry, 180million people of Pakistan, and 100m people of Punjab by delaying power projects of Nandipur and Chicho Ki Malian,” he said, while mentioning that he had always talked to the prime minister about these projects, and on Saturday succeeded in getting the approval of these projects in the CCI meeting. “Now the country will have to bear the additional expenses of billions of rupees due to delay in these projects and it is impossible to pay the cost of negative impacts caused to the economy of the country. Who should be held responsible for these losses of billions of rupees, and the criminal negligence?” he quizzed.
He demanded strict action against those who caused this loss to the nation and the country as such persons were criminals of the nation and those should be hanged trying to ruin the country. “If action was not taken against these criminals of the nation, we will raise voice at every forum and expose them and recover the looted money of the nation from them,” he reiterated.
During the press conference, Shahbaz Sharif did not reply a question about Shahbaz Taseer’s abduction, and said, he would talk about the subject at some other time. However, as per sources, he held a meeting with senior cops at the lounge of the Old Airport who were waiting for him prior to his arrival.

CM Punjab nods veggie-fruit market at Kacha

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has given approval in principle to the setting up a modern fruit and vegetable market at Kacha on Ferozepur Road and constituted a committee to take all possible measures for the completion of the project within a year.
He also issued instructions for provision of necessary facilities as soon as possible in the vegetable market shifted from Kot Lakhpat.
He was presiding over a meeting regarding the project of setting up fruit and vegetable market here on Wednesday.
Addressing the meeting, the CM said a large peace of land had been selected at Kacha where a well-designed fruit and vegetable market would be set up which would be equipped with the latest facilities. He added that the project would introduce a new culture and promote economic and trade activities, and the site for the market was nearest to Motorway, Ring Road and railway crossing which would be of great benefit. He also issued instructions for contacting railway authorities for linking fruit and vegetable market with the railway system.
He also gave instructions to the committee set up under the chairmanship of Afzal Khokhar to visit Turkey, Thailand and China to review the model of such markets in these countries for setting up the modern fruit and vegetable market in Lahore. He further directed that all out facilities should be extended to the middlemen of the vegetable market shifted from Kot Lakhpat so that they could pursue their business activities without any problem.
Earlier, Secretary Agriculture Department Captain (retd) Arif Nadeem gave a briefing regarding the project of fruit and vegetable market at Kacha. The participants of the meeting also gave their proposals in this regard.

CM directs police for Taseer’s recovery

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has directed that no effort should be spared for immediate recovery of Shahbaz Taseer, son of former Governor Punjab Salman Taseer.
He ordered immediate arrest of culprits involved in the incident. He was presiding over a meeting at the Lahore Airport on his return from Karachi on Friday. Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, Inspector General Police, Home Secretary and senior officers were present. The meeting considered all aspects of the case in detail. The CM directed the departments concerned to ensure early recovery of Shahbaz Taseer and all resources should be utilised for this purpose.
Later, he went to the residence of the former Governor and met his family members. Ex-Governo’s wife Aamina Taseer and son Shehryar Taseer were also present on this occasion. The CM assured them that all resources would be utilised for early recovery of Shahbaz Taseer and no effort would be spared in this regard.
He mentioned that special instructions had been issued to the senior Police officers for this purpose. The CM said he would personally supervise the investigation of this incident and Capital City Police Officer would regularly inform the members of the family about the progress of the investigation.
The family members expressed complete confidence in the steps taken by the Punjab government for recovery of Shahbaz Taseer.

Shahbaz for no political, babus’ interference in Daanish management

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said students of Daanish schools will prove to be Pakistanis in the real sense and play an active role in the development of the country and service of the masses.
“Setting up of the Daanish schools in backward and far-flung areas is resulting in promotion of education in these areas which will ultimately spread to as every corner of the province. While these Schools are imparting modern knowledge to the children of deprived segments of the society they have also promoted a feeling in them that they have as much right over national resources as the elite, he said, while presiding over 7th meeting of Daanish Schools Authority here on Thursday. MPAs Zaib Jaffar, Rana Muhammad Afzal and Major (retd) Abdul Rehman, Chief Secretary, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Secretaries of Schools and Finance Departments, Vice Chairman Daanish Schools Authority, Vice Chairman Punjab Educational Endowment Fund and other members of the authority attended the meeting. Managing Director Daanish Schools System Yousaf Kamal gave a detailed briefing regarding the project of Daanish schools.
Shahbaz Sharif mentioned that six Daanish schools were imparting modern education to the students in Bahawalpur Division while eight more schools would be set up in Attock, Mianwali, Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan during current year. Giving approval in principle to a special quota for the students of other provinces in Daanish schools, the CM said that it would promote national solidarity and brotherhood in accordance with the policy of Punjab government.
The CM said Pakistan was created for the purpose of ensuring equal rights to all citizens, but while a handful of elite enjoyed all privileges during the last 64 years, the majority of people remained deprived of even basic facilities and the poor were shedding their blood and sweat for national development and progress and it was the responsibility of the society to ensure due returns to them for their labour. “The entire credit for bringing the deprived segments of the society into national mainstream goes to Pakistan Muslim League-N which has diverted resources to the marginalised classes and less-developed areas and laid the foundation of a revolution in education sector by starting the project of Daanish schools,” he asserted, adding that the poorest of the poor students were getting modern education in Daanish schools and the scope of this project would be extended to the whole province.
Issuing instructions for giving a final shape to the financial model of Daanish schools as soon as possible, the CM directed that such individuals should also be inducted in the board of governors of these schools which ha an urge to serve the country and equip the new generation with modern education. He said retired teachers, judges, civil servants and the best individuals from various sectors of life should be selected for this purpose but it should be ensured that bureaucracy and political influence should not have any interference in the management of these schools. He also issued instructions for conducting performance audit of the teachers and students of Daanish schools. He said discipline in students was of vital importance and the students should be trained on proper lines for grooming their personality. “Pakistan is a poor country and government has limited resources; therefore, it cannot afford extravagant expenditure. Six Daanish schools have been set up and in the light of the experience in the construction of Daanish schools, measures should be adopted for curtailing cost of construction of new schools. However, no compromise be made on the quality and standard,” he said, while issuing instructions for taking immediate steps for construction of mosques in Daanish schools and directed that administration of the mosques should be completely free of sectarian prejudices and educate the students in the Quran and Hadith. He directed that starting of second shift in Daanish schools should also be considered and recommendations should be submitted to him in this regard in the next meeting. “Financial assistance is being extended to talented students facing economic problems from the PEEF for pursuing their academic activities and lakhs of students of all the four provinces as well as Azad Kashmir are benefiting from this fund. The fund had been set up with a sum of Rs four billions and an amount of Rs 2 billion is being added every year,” he said, adding that establishment of the PEE Fund was a revolutionary step for the uplift of education sector and helping talented students complete their education; therefore it should continue.
He added that quota for the students of other provinces should also be reserved in Daanish schools for promotion of national solidarity and brotherhood and a policy should soon be evolved for this purpose. He mentioned that five percent quota had already been allocated for students of Cholistan in these schools. “Students of other provinces are also included in the programme of the Punjab government of sending position-holders of the province to the prestigious universities of the world and now a quota should be reserved in the Daanish schools for students of other provinces as well,” he said.
He commended the services of Yousaf Kamal and other members of the authority, and said they were engaged in a noble cause.

Nawaz Sharif warns govt of long march

President PML-N Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has maintained that the nation is

divided into two classes, as one segment puts its signature on files in offices and gets a house from the national exchequer, while another of workers, labourers, cultivators and marginalised persons who do not have even a two-Marla house.
“It is the responsibility of the state to safeguard the rights of the poor. The PML-N has started welfare projects for the poor people in its every tenure, but certain elements always thwarted its efforts,” he said, while addressing the ceremony held on Tuesday at Saroba Atari for the distribution of allotment letters to the lucky recipients of houses allotted to them through transparent balloting in the first Aashiyana Housing Project. Nawaz Sharif was the chief guest on the occasion. Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Senior Advisor to CM Sirdar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Muslim League leaders Zafar Iqbal Jhagra, Mushahid Ullah Khan, members of national and provincial assemblies, provincial ministers, columnists, intellectuals and a large number of people were present on the occasion. Earlier, Chairman Punjab Land Development Company Sheikh Alauddin gave a briefing about the Aashiyana Housing Project. Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif inspected houses also. Later they gave allotment letters to the lucky winners.
Nawaz Sharif assured that he would safeguard the rights of the people and would even go to the extent of a long march for this purpose, if needed. “Pakistan is not for only a few but of 180 million people. Rights will be granted to the people at their doorstep. The promise made to the people on August 14 will be honoured and destiny of Pakistan will be changed through collective efforts. Time will come when Pakistan will become a prosperous country and every effort will be made for this purpose,” he assured.
While talking about his last term as prime minister, Nawaz Sharif mentioned that a project was started for the provision of five lakh houses under the Mera Ghar Scheme, and lamented that General Musharraf immediately after coming into power sold all the plots at a throwaway prices, but no one held him accountable. He added that besides Mera Ghar Scheme in the last tenure of the Muslim League, lands were also distributed among landless cultivators in Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while proprietary rights were granted to lakhs of dwellers of kachi Abadies. “The yellow cabs have also been given during this period and the same welfare projects are still continuing in Punjab,” he said, adding that provision of shelter to the shelterless was a big achievement of Shahbaz Sharif and the project started by him for the poor would be extended and the time would come when every Pakistani would have his own house. “Shahbaz Sharif has started the Aashiyana for the poor and lakhs of people will have become owners of houses through these schemes by the next general elections,” he said.

Shahbaz Sharif has said the PML-N had not only realised the dream of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif by providing houses to the poor, labourers, widows and deprived persons under the Aashiyana, but also translated the vision of the Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal into reality. “By providing shelter to the shelterless, a feeling has been promoted among them that they are as much Pakistanis as anyone else. The Aashiyana Housing Project is free of corruption and a living proof of the transparent policy of the Punjab government,” he said, while presenting himself for any punishment if any irregularity was proved in the Project.
He cited that in addition to Lahore, work was also in progress expeditiously on the Aashiyana schemes in six other districts, and mentioned that the Schemes would be started in 18 other districts this year and the scope of the project would be extended to the whole province. “Even better civic amenities than the residential colonies of the rich have been provided in the Aashiyana, which is an abode of the common and poor Pakistanis. Had such schemes been started 64 years ago, the situation of the country would have been different,” he wished, while asserting that the Project was closely linked with August 14, and this was the most transparent and corruption-free project in the history of the country. He added that the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had given the message of hard work and acting upon his principle, this project had been completed by working round-the-clock. “The forefathers of the country had a dream on March 23, 1940 which was realised in 1947 after an epic struggle under the leadership of the Quaid-e-Azam and Pakistan came into existence. They had envisioned such a land where there would be justice and every citizen would have basic rights as well as equal opportunities. However, the 65th independence day of Pakistan poses a big question why this dream of the founding fathers of Pakistan has still not been realised?” he exclaimed.

He also said workers and labourers were asking when the rule of oppression and injustice would come to an end, and though various dictatorial and autocratic governments ruled the country during the last 64 years, but no one has addressed this issue. “The common man is still living in miseries and is running from pillar to post for justice and basic facilities. The dictators and politicians made politics a business and indulged in loot and corruption and deprived the people of their basic rights. However, time has come to grant basic rights to the masses. The PML-N government has started revolutionary projects for the welfare and betterment of the people and Aashiyana Housing Project is such a welfare scheme which has realised the dream of the common man of having his own house,” he said, adding that balloting was conducted in a highly transparent manner for the Scheme and houses had been given to the applicants after complete scrutiny and verification of their particulars.