LAHORE, Pakistan: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday that revolutionary changes were being brought in the railways and the improvement was the result of transparency, hard work and sincere efforts.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of railways double track from Lodhran to Raiwind here at Premnagar, he said that Khawaja Saad Rafique, railways authorities and all who were making efforts for the betterment of the PR, deserve congratulation.
He said that Minister for Railways and his team under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had done historic job for improving the PR system.
“Rs 10 billion deficit of railways has reduced with which its system improved considerably and more Rs 3.5 billion is being reduced”, he added.
He said that a large number of passengers who had left travelling through railways had again come in railways system.
Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that this day was an important day in the history of railways when the project of dual railway track from Lodhran to Raiwind had been inaugurated.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, railways has made tremendous progress”, he added.
He appealed to the media that besides criticizing shortcomings of the government, it should also highlight its good deeds.
The Chief Minister said the government faced worst flood in the history of the country in 2010 which caused devastations throughout the country.
He said that a number of houses were damaged in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other areas and thousands acres crops were destroyed and the entire nation and all institutions worked collectively during this flood adding that he personally helped the people marooned in the flood water in South Punjab round the clock but some people also criticized his this deed.
He said that it was the result of the service of the masses that people of South Punjab voted PML-N and ensured thumping success under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
He said that China had given 46 billion dollar package for CPEC projects, out of which, 36 billion dollar were being invested in energy projects and this was not the loan.
He said that 2.5 billion dollars were being spent on coal power plants in Sahiwal and solar plants in Bahawalpur whereas 9 billion dollars were being spent on energy projects in Sindh.
“Sindh was an important province of the country and we will be happy if 18 billion dollar instead of 9 billion dollar will be invested in Sindh,” he added.
He said that the projects are also being set up in Gawadar and KPK under CPEC. Referring to Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project, the Chief Minister said some elements were criticizing this project that only people of Lahore would benefit from this project and why center was providing resources for it, whereas, the fact was that Punjab government has obtained loan from China on soft terms for this project at 2.4 percent.
He said that there was no country in the world which gives loan on such soft terms. He said that the first instalment of the loan had to be paid after seven years and its total period was 20 years.
He said that criticism was made on the sovereign guarantee of federal government for getting foreign loans whereas according to constitution of Pakistan, federal government has to give sovereign guarantee for all foreign loans of the provinces.
Shahbaz Sharif said that today’s media was independent and powerful and instead of creating misunderstandings, it has to play its role for the promotion of cooperation and national solidarity.
He said that Pakistan can make development and progress through solidarity of four provinces. He said that Pakistan would be made self-reliant through hard work and only.
Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the resources of poor nation were looted ruthlessly during dictatorial era and national economy was affected due to corruption.
He said, when PML-N came into power, railway and other national institutions were presenting awful stories.
He said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor was a national project and all units of Pakistan will benefit from it.
“Punjab gives 11 billion rupees annually to other provinces out of its share and got approved National Finance Commission Award”, he added.
He said that all units of the country would have to remove misunderstandings jointly for the progress of Pakistan. He said like National Finance Commission Award, Punjab was ready to give every sacrifice for the stability, development and prosperity of the country in future as well.
He vowed that under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan would be steered out of quagmire of problems and put on the road to progress and prosperity.
Source: APP
