Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday that PML-N has put an end to the culture of violent protests in Karachi and now it offers safe and healthy environment for investment.
Addressing the workers of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) after chairing a meeting of the party's provincial executive committee and later business community at a hotel in Karachi, the former premier said that today's Karachi is much more safe and secure than Karachi of 2013 as untiring efforts of PML-N government helped in putting an end to kidnapping for ransom, extortion and targeted killings. "We have also brought to halt the culture of violent protests and lawlessness in Karachi and now Karachi is safe for investment," he said.
He said that PML-N will change for better the situation of entire Sindh particularly Karachi if given the opportunity. "Our government had already freed the country from the shackles of terrorism and power blackouts," he added.
PML-N is committed to restoring the lost glory of Karachi on sustainable grounds and their efforts has already brought about marked improvement in the port city's law and order situation, he said.
He asked his workers, have they not noticed change in today's Karachi and that of 2013 and said that some five years ago violence, terrorism and other crimes were rampant in Karachi; however, PML-N leadership soon after assuming the power in 2013 took upon itself to address the situation on sustainable grounds.
All stakeholders were taken on board during a meeting held at Sindh Governor House in September 2013 leading to a unanimous decision regarding restoration of peace in the metropolis and now the situation is much better than that of 2013, he added.
However, Nawaz said that Karachi is still facing a number of other issues like non-availability of portable water and sanitation. "We will make Karachi a remarkable place for living and doing business if got a chance and we always fulfill all our promise," he added.
Nawaz urged the people of Sindh to examine the condition of the province and metropolis, before casting their votes in the next general elections. "You will need to blame yourself if you continue to vote for them," he said.
He criticized the situation of KP and self-proclaimed new Pakistan. "We are constructing roads and motorways in KP. What is your performance in the past four and a half years?" asked Nawaz.
"It was PML-N that during its current tenure built Hazara Motorway in KPK besides connecting people from Karachi to Peshawar through an under construction highway via Islamabad," he said.
Referring to recently inaugurated Lyari Expressway in Karachi, the PML-N president said his party's vision is connecting people of the country besides facilitating their mobility a prerequisite for their socio-economic well being.
He told the participants that the service he has done to the country was visible in the entire country. His government laid out a network of motorways, and brought CPEC project in the country, he added.
He said poverty and unemployment had reached an alarming level, whereas education system has retrogressed in the province and call for immediate action to improve the situation.
"Although I was not allowed to complete my tenure and a verdict of my removal was rolled out but the nation has rejected this verdict," former premier said.
The PML-N chief landed in Karachi earlier in the day and was received by party leaders at the Old Terminal of the Jinnah International Airport, Karachi. It may be mentioned here that this was first visit of Nawaz Sharif to Karachi since being disqualified as Prime Minister by the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) in the Panama Papers Case.