Opponents can’t prove any corruption in Punjab: Shahbaz
Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the elements engaged in baseless propaganda against laptop scheme and Ujala programme for the talented boy and girl students have no concern with the welfare and betterment of the masses.
He said he wants to make it clear to his political opponents, who are describing merit-based distribution of laptops and solar lamps among brilliant students as an attempt to purchase their vote that the purpose of these schemes is to encourage merit scholars and it is their right.
He said that the aim of creation of Pakistan was to eliminate discrimination between the rich and the poor but unfortunately this gulf has further widened during the last 65 years. He said that establishment of Daanish schools, launching of metro bus project and other welfare programmes like laptop scheme and Ujala programme is a meaningful attempt to remove class discrimination. He was addressing laptops distribution ceremony among 1145 boy and girl students of Murray College Sialkot, today. Members National Assembly Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Murtaza Amin, Rana Abdul Sattar, Dr. Nelson Azeem, Advisors Zaeem Hussain Qadri, Mansha Ullah Butt, Members Provincial Assembly, teachers and a large number of merit scholars attended the function. A contingent of Punjab police presented guard of honour to the students.
Addressing the ceremony, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that girl students are showing better performance and wherever he went for distribution of laptops he found that girl students had taken lead over the boy students.
He said that out of 1145 students selected on merit under laptop scheme in Sialkot only 195 were boy students. He said that the way the daughters of the nation are showing outstanding performance in education sector it seems that instead of Khadim-e-Punjab some Khadima-ePunjab might become the chief minister. He said that laptops are being distributed among merit scholars of Punjab with a sum of eight billion rupees and it is an excellent investment for ensuring a bright future for the youth. Similarly, he said, solar panels are being given at a cost of Rs.2.5 billion.
He said that basic purpose of providing solar panels to boy and girl students is to enable them continue their academic activities during loadshedding. He said that he wants to make it clear that the opponents of laptops and solar lamp schemes do not want to see the country flourish and prosper. He said that youth of the country are conscious and no one can purchase boy and girl students who study under the light of lantern.
He said that an agreement has been signed with Transparency International to judge the transparency of metro bus project, Ujala programme and laptop scheme and this independent institution has written to Deputy Prime Minister Ch. Pervaiz Elahi, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira and other critics to give proof of corruption in these projects. He said that welfare programmes of Punjab government are highly transparent and the opponents cannot prove corruption of even a single penny in these projects.
He said that if any irregularity came to surface, he would be ready to face accountability. He said that if any department was found involved in corruption, the guilty persons will not be spared. He said that children of poor families and workers have equal right over education and keeping this fact in view has set up Daanish schools in far-flung areas of the province to provide modern educational facilities to the children of remote areas.
He said that the whole nation from Karachi to Peshwar has risen against corruption of Zardari and his cronies and the days of these corruption kings are numbered. He said it is strange that those who looted national exchequer ruthlessly during their tenure are raising hue and cry about corruption.
He said that these elements did nothing during their rule for uplift and betterment of masses, but were now engaged in baseless propaganda against welfare-oriented projects. He said that if the masses brought Pakistan Muslim LeagueN into power with their votes in the forthcoming general elections, the destiny of the nation will be changed under the leadership of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and darkness will be replaced with light within two years.
Earlier on his arrival in Sialkot, the Chief Minister inaugurated Nawaz Sharif Hockey Stadium which has been constructed at a cost of three crore 95 lakh rupees. An exhibition match was also played between two hockey teams of Sialkot at the newly-constructed stadium. Singer Nadeem Abbas presented the song Choo Lo Aasman, Tum Ho Pakistan, during laptop distribution ceremony which was greatly appreciated. Later, the Chief Minister distributed laptops among merit scholars.
Addressing office-bearers of Chamber of Commerce & Industry Sialkot, the Chief Minister said that it is not difficult to resolve energy crisis, however serious efforts are required for this purpose. He said that power theft in any province should be curbed. He said that federal government is fully aware where power theft of billions of rupees is being committed.
He said that effective measures are needed to check this practice. He said that the country is plunged in darkness for the last five years and there is neither electricity nor gas. He questioned why the rulers did not have the idea of agreement with Iran four years ago. He said despite opposition of federal government, he has brought foreign investment of 600 million dollars to Punjab and promoted trade and economic activities in the province under an effective strategy while industrial process has also been accelerated.