Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the nation is united for holding fair, transparent and prompt accountability of all those involved in loot and corruption in the past. The facts about Swiss bank accounts, NICL scandal and the ruthless loot and plunder of the country's wealth are well known to the people and they want accountability of such elements.
"There is a need to move ahead without wasting any time and such a system should be evolved that no dishonest person could undermine national interests. Pakistani people know who is serving them honestly and dedicatedly and who has been involved in loot and corruption in the past. He said the elements involved in loot, corruption and waiving off loans on political basis have destroyed the country and time has come for their strict, indiscriminate and transparent accountability.
"The nation has decided that the looted money should be recovered and such a system of accountability be evolved that no one could dare to misappropriate the hard-earned money of the poor or grab lands.
Time has come for accountability". Shahbaz Sharif who is also leader of the House was addressing the Punjab Assembly on a motion about "good governance in the province" after a long time to clear the impression created by Panama Leaks papers about amassing of wealth by his elder brother Nawaz Sharif and his family members. He said Panama Leaks is being discussed in media, parliament as well as the whole country. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his address to the nation on television had made it clear that there was no reference to him in Panama Leaks. He had written a letter to Supreme Court for setting up a commission and said if there is a reference to his sons in Panama Leaks, they will themselves present evidence before the commission. It is a proof of Prime Minister's sincerity.
Shahbaz Sharif said the opposition raised further questions with regard to TORs upon which the Prime Minister has stated that consultations will be held with opposition leaders on this issue, however unfortunately there was no reference to the waiving of loans, commission, kickbacks and corruption in the TORs of opposition and it looks as if the TORs were not against corruption but against an individual (Nawaz Sharif)
"The Prime Minister has again presented his case in the parliament and stated the facts, members of parliament and the whole nation listened to his speech and they will be the real judge. The Chief Minister said under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, all out efforts are being made for overcoming energy crisis as it has badly affected, agriculture, education, health and all sectors of life.
Despite severe heat of 45 degrees people are not on the streets is due to the reason that they have confidence that the present government is making sincere efforts for resolving energy problem. He said that shortage of energy will be overcome within next two years; work is being carried out expeditiously on energy projects in Sindh, KPK, Balochistan, and Punjab under China Pakistan Economic Corridor. Shahbaz Sharif said out of the investment package of 46 billion dollars given by China, 34 billion are being spent on power projects while the remaining amount will be utilised on infrastructure projects.
He said that the political opponents of the government allege that these are expensive loans and they are trying to mislead the nation over the economic package given by China. This package has also been described as fictitious.
The Chief Minister assured the house that work on power projects of thousands of megawatts is continuing speedily throughout Pakistan under CPEC, work is being carried out round the clock over 1320 megawatt energy project costing $1.8 billion dollars in Sahiwal and it will start producing electricity by the end of next year. Similarly, he said, power projects of hundreds of megawatts are being implemented in Bahawalpur under CPEC while electricity is being supplied to national grid with the completion of solar power projects.
Shahbaz Sharif said that federal and Punjab government is setting up three gas-based energy projects of 3600 megawatt in Bhikki, Haveli Bahadar Shah and Baloki. He said China has not given loan but made pure investment, there has never been any period in Pakistan's 69 years history that investment of 34 billion dollars been made by any country in power projects.
He said that CPEC is such an investment package that will change destiny of Pakistan and strengthen its economy. The Chief Minister warned that nation will hold accountable such elements as are trying to hamper the process of national development and will not forgive those who are creating hurdles in economic corridor, energy and other welfare projects or wasting time of the nation in fruitless sit-ins. He said the nation is united today on accountability and there is a need to move ahead without wasting any time and evolve a mechanism for elimination of corruption so that Pakistan could achieve its goal.