'We bore all sort of accusations but delivered,' says Shehbaz Sharif

LAHORE: Former Punjab chief minister and Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday gave a performance review and recalled the achievements over the last five years.

He said they worked tirelessly and delivered in several sectors, despite several accusation by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“We bore all sort of accusations from the PTI leadership in KP, but we didn’t give much attention and instead delivered,” he said adding even the UNDP report stated that Punjab was leading in several sectors than other provinces.

He said Punjab invested in the setting up power projects, and the entire country benefited. He said their government invested Rs150 billion in power projects, and although it was not their responsibility, electricity was provided to the whole nation.

“We have always believed in the notion that investment of Punjab, and power to entire Pakistan,” he said adding that it was the goodwill gesture that entire nation should benefit from it.

He said that patients were compelled to seek treatment in India, and were not even issued visas, which was rather shameful for them. Therefore, the government set up new medical colleges and hospitals so that kidney and liver transplantation procedures can be performed within the country.

“In a couple of days, transplantation machinery will arrive in Pakistan. Don’t go to India anymore. We have beat them in transplantation, and we have to fight and defeat them economically,” he said.

He said the Pervez Musharraf duped the country by just laying the foundation stone of Basha Dam in 2007, while it was their government who released billions to purchase the lands. He vowed that, if given the opportunity, they will win the case for water with India.

He said that public transport is the hallmark a society, which was in shambles and citizens couldn’t reach in old dilapidated buses. Therefore, they provided cost-efficient and effective metro buses and Orange Line services.

He said the KP government, which criticised the Lahore metro service previously, is now setting up but has instead ruined the city. “This is their planning. What will they do for the economy, exports and providing employment,” he said lashing at the now dissolved PT-led government.

He said the Peshawar High Court had taken notice of the matriculation results last year, and children in the province were forced to work in brick kilns. “KP, Sindh, and Balochistan’s children are working on brick kilns,” he said.

He said the Punjab provided interest-free loans to over two million youth worth Rs40 billion. “Tell me which province has potential to set up small dams and hydel power? KP, but they produced minus six megawatts electricity,” he said.

While on the other hand, he said the Punjab government produced 5000 megawatts and saved Rs682 billion, and even reduced cost by billion by the lowest bidder, and returned it in form of money or natural resources, which is unprecedented by any government since 1947.

“I swear in the month of Ramazan, each and every penny is well accounted for. The achievements of the PML-N are being left to the people.”

Shehbaz Sharif even credited his government for handing over Karachi to the Rangers, and making the critical decision in 2014 to ensure peace and metropolis. He said that law-enforcement agencies have rendered tremendous sacrifices, and even fortified the border area in South Waziristan to ensure peace.