Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that billions of rupees were wasted in the past due to corruption, plunder and nepotism in the execution of development projects and Lahore-Kasur Road project worth about four billions rupees is an example in this regard.
He said that criminal negligence and inefficiency was shown toward this project and had the present government not taken notice of this state of affairs, billions of rupees of public money would have gone down the drain.
He said this while presiding over a meeting held to review Lahore-Kasur Road project at Liliani, district Kasur, Sunday. He issued instructions for blacklisting the construction companies engaged in Lahore-Kasur Road project Hassnain Cotex and Eco-West and observed that the performance of Communication and Works Department was highly unsatisfactory and the Secretary concerned should plan for the future of the department.
He directed that the new contractor should complete the remaining work by June-15 by working round-the-clock and he would be rewarded with cash prize and commendatory certificate if the project were completed within the timeframe.
He also issued instructions for taking stern disciplinary action against the officers and staff of Communication and Works Department and those companies found responsible for delay and substandard construction work.
Senator Parvaiz Raseed, MNA and MPA, Commissioner Lahore Division and senior officers of the departments concerned were present on the occasion.
Secretary Communication and Works, Major (retd) Azam Suleman gave a detailed briefing regarding the pace of implementation of the project.
The chief minister said that after the toppling of the democratic government, the dictator raised tall clams of his commitment to democracy and public service but the situation was totally different.
He said that the hard-earned money of the people was wasted on substandard development projects and Lahore-Kasur Road project worth four billion rupees was delayed due to criminal negligence.
He said that there was no mechanism to check sub-standard construction work and corruption in development projects in the past and payments of million of rupees were made without completion of development projects.
He said that he had visited Lahore-Kasur Road project four times and issued instructions for action against the engineer of the department concerned who are not committed as well as early completion of the project by the contractors but the project was still pending due to which people were facing serious problems.
He said that it was time for self-reformation for a bright future of a country and solution of people's problems before it was too late.
He said that there was a need for drawing lesson from the revolution of Kyrgyzstan and eliminate corruption from the society for resolving people's problems and provision of basic amenities to the masses. Moreover, he also announced release of funds of Rs 150 million for resuming work on Rohi Nullah Kasur.