Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader and Punjab ex-Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif expressed concern over country's economic situation and expressed the resolve to bring real change for the benefit of the country as well as countrymen by working devotedly, honestly and with strong commitment.
"The electricity loadshedding problem can be tackled within two years by following the model of commitment shown during the construction of metro bus project," he said while addressing a gathering of businessmen at a local hotel. He added that metro bus project was completed in record 11 months period at a cost of 30 billions of rupees through strong commitment, hard work, devotion and strong will. The PML-N, if voted to power will introduce comprehensive programmes for poverty alleviation, creation of job opportunities and promotion of economic, industrial and trade activities in the country.
Among others leading industrialists S.M. Munir, Anjum Nisar, Zahid Aslam, Qaiser Ahmad Sheikh and Haji Inam Elahi Asar also spoke on the occasion. Shahbaz Sharif maintained that the PPP-led government caused great harm to the country's economy through massive corruption and bad governance. He said the country's exports are declining while IMF is not ready for giving any programme. However, he said the PML-N is determined to face all the challenges to revive the national economy. "If voted to power, the PML-N would change the country by following reforms agenda implemented in Punjab," he said.
According to him, one of the most important pre-conditions for economic revival is the restoration of confidence of the business community and other stakeholders. To achieve this important objective, PML-N will engage the business community in decision making, ensure steady supply of energy, provide fiscal incentives to improve competitiveness, reduce the cost of doing business and accord high priority to the export sector and small and medium enterprises in rural areas.
Shahbaz said that Punjab government presented its three mega projects worth 36 billion of rupees including metro bus project, lap top and solar lamp projects to Transparency International Pakistan for judging their transparency which when asked "Khan Sahib," the then Deputy PM Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and the then Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira for proof of their allegations, made them speechless because they failed to respond.
The PML-N leader said they served the masses, during the last five years, with complete sincerity, dedication and honesty, over which his heart and soul is satisfied. He said Pakistan Muslim League-N has presented a revolutionary manifesto for general elections, and we would field such candidates who are imbued with the spirit of national service and they will achieve success during the elections. He said the PML-N would establish new records of national service, after again coming into power, and transform Pakistan into a country as envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal, under the dynamic leadership of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
Shahbaz said that development projects in Punjab are spread all over the province, as roads, flyovers, new universities, medical colleges, hospitals and free medicines were provided to the across the province. He said Daanish schools are proving quality education to have-nots while scholarships are being extended to deserving students through Education Endowment Fund. He said our political opponents who claim that development projects were carried out in Lahore during last five years live in fools' paradise.