Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that he will whole-heartedly accept people’s verdict in general elections, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
He expressed these remarks while addressing a ceremony held in connection with inauguration of several development projects in Sharqpur on Saturday.
He said they would accept public mandate in the upcoming general elections and if the PML-N under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif got another opportunity to serve the country, they would restore the real image of Pakistan.
PM Shehbaz urged the people to consider the facts involving pathetic and poor performance of corruption tainted government of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf with that of Pakistan Muslim League-N which had always been the pioneer of mega development projects.
Declaring former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif as ‘a builder of Pakistan, man behind ending loadshedding, launching of multi dollars China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects and a builder of a vast network of roads and putting the country on path of rapid progress, he said Nawaz Sharif aspired to transform the country into ‘an Asian tiger’.
Unfortunately, his rule was ended in 2018 through a huge conspiracy hatched against Pakistan, the prime minister regretted.
If the PML-N was in the government during the four years of PTI’s rule, the country would have a different destiny, he added.
During the years 2013 to 2018, under Nawaz Sharif’s rule the country was making progress by leaps and bounds, but afterwards in the PTI’s government, the country was pushed into chaos.
The prime minister said with a change in the regime, all the opposition leadership was sent to jails on basis of fake cases, false allegations of thefts and corruption were levelled, even sisters and daughters were sent behind bars during the PTI’s rule.
“The development pace spurred by PML-N government was halted,” he regretted.
PM Shehbaz deplored that the previous PTI government put Nawaz Sharif in jail and instilled the wrong ides of ‘thief’ and ‘dakoo’ in the minds of people instead of taking any practical measures for the welfare of people and betterment of the country.
On the contrary, Nawaz Sharif during his tenure as country’s prime minister had changed country’s position after putting it on the road to progress, the premier asserted.
The premier castigated PTI chairman who had promised to bring back country’s money from abroad but failed to deposit 190 million pounds to the Government of Pakistan’s account. Rather the recovered pounds were landed in the Supreme Court account, he rued. He said that the money was recovered by the UK’s National Crime Agency and they wanted to repatriate it to Pakistan.
A closed envelop was presented before the cabinet in this regard without showing or discussing it with the members and approval was accorded, he added.
“It was a huge crime as to how the national exchequer was plundered,” he said, adding the BRT Peshawar, Toshakhana, Malam Jabba, sugar scams, etc. were the other major corruption cases of PTI.
The prime minister said the UK crime agency had also carried out investigation against him for two years over false allegations and at the request of PTI’s government but later, gave him clean chit.
Citing difficulties regarding the IMF’s agreement, the prime minister said China, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates stood with Pakistan like rocks.
He said that he could not sleep due to fears of Pakistan being on the verge of default, but with the grace of Allah Almighty, Pakistan was now, on its right direction.
The ceremony was attended by ministers, parliamentarians, relevant authorities and a large number of people.
The prime minister said that under his Youth’s programmes about Rs80 billion were set aside and exclaimed that if the government had more resources, he would not hesitate to allocate them for the country’s youth.
He said under the laptops scheme, the students were given the gadgets due to their hard work. Due due to this facility, a huge number of youth had been earning livelihood and getting education while sitting at homes, he added.
The prime minister declared that if the PML-N got another opportunity to serve the country, they would spread a network of laptops.
He further said that price hike had burdened the poor people, but these difficulties could be overcome with collective hard work, dedication and sincerity.
The prime minister also underlined the priorities of his government including agriculture development, information technology, exploration of minerals etc to achieve progress.
He reiterated that life could no longer be led on foreign loans and stressed that the country people have to decide whether to live with respect or on begging.
Referring to the soft launch of uplift projects in the area, he expressed the confidence that it would uplift facade of the area and ease traffic vehicular traffic, besides boosting trade activities.
Earlier, the prime minister laid foundation stone of Esaan Interchange at Abdul Hakeem Motorway. The project will create around 27,000 jobs.
The prime minister was briefed about the development projects in Sharqpur.
PM Shehbaz said that the development projects initiated by his government are 100% for the public welfare. He was of the view that these projects would generate employment and give boost to the business. He said that problems like road congestion would also be solved through these schemes.
The projects include 19 kilometer long Lahore bypass, connecting Kala Shah Kaku to Lahore-Karachi Motorway, expansion of Lahore-Karachi Motorway up to Sigian Road and Main Ravi Bridge, and Esaan Sharkpur Interchange at Abdul Hakeem Motorway.
Addressing on the occasion, the Prime Minister said the expansion project of Lahore-Karachi Motorway up to Sigian Road and Main Ravi Bridge will facilitate traffic of Lahore, save fuel and create employment opportunities.
He said the route of metro bus will be extended from Shahdra to Kala Shah Kaku.
He said approximately Rs50 billion will be spent on these development projects.
He also announced to build Quaid-e-Azam University in Sharqpur.
The prime minister said the previous government did not start any development project and pushed the country towards darkness.