- Regrets instead of new projects, development pace initiated by PML-N intentionally interrupted
- Visits different projects, directs early completion of all ongoing projects
LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday accused the previous government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf of deliberately interrupting the development pace initiated by the PML-N, saying the people of Punjab were avenged for their support to PML-N government.
“Instead initiating new development projects, the PTI government deliberately interrupted the development projects initiated by the PML-N government,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed while chairing a high-level meeting held to review the ongoing public welfare projects.
وزیرِاعظم شہباز شریف کی زیر صدارت لاہور میں جاری عوامی سہولت کے ترقیاتی کاموں اور مجوزہ منصوبوں کے حوالے سے اعلیٰ سطحی اجلاس۔
وزیر اعظم کی جانب سے عوامی فلاح کے منصوبے جو سالہا سال سے تاخیر کا شکار رہے ہیں ان کو جلد از جلد مکمل کرنے کی ہدایت۔ pic.twitter.com/IkCQEgTEgQ
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) April 16, 2023
Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi, Advisor to PM Ahad Khan Cheema and federal and provincial authorities attended the meeting, said a press release issued by the PM Office Media Wing on Sunday.
The meeting was given a detailed briefing over the construction work on Imamia colony flyover project. The prime minister directed for early completion of the project for the public use.
Addressing the participants, the prime minister said that during the last four years of the previous government, the affairs of the province were handed over to an incompetent and puppet chief minister.
Instead focusing on the progress of province, the office of the chief minister was misused for political maneuvering at the federal level, he opined.
The prime minister further observed that these public welfare-oriented projects which should have been completed and alleviated public woes, continued to hit snags for years during the previous government’s tenure.
He directed the early completing of all such ongoing projects.
The meeting was further briefed about the proposed Lahore-Sialkot motorway link road to facilitate the people of Gujranwala.
The prime minister directed the chief minister to constitute a three-member committee in this regard that would give a detailed briefing over the project in the next meeting.
PM inspects different development projects
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday visited the under-construction Lahore Bridge and CBD underpass to review the pace of work and directed for fast-paced completion.
وزیراعظم کو اس موقع پر منصوبے سے متعلق بریفنگ بھی دی گئی۔ pic.twitter.com/JKwxIZ4IFv
— President PMLN (@president_pmln) April 16, 2023
During his visit to the construction site of Lahore bridge, the prime minister was apprised that the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) project worth Rs1,712 million was started in 2021 but delayed for two years due to the non-issuance of a no objection certificate.
The prime minister expressed his displeasure over the pace of work and the shutdown programme by the LESCO. The prime minister directed for initiation of legal action against the official concerned for the delay and desired completion of the process in two weeks.
The officials were given one month time to complete the construction work instead of a period of two months.
The prime minister was accompanied by Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Syed MohsinNaqvi, chief secretary and other senior officials.
The prime minister also visited CBD underpass and termed the delay unfair. He questioned the hiring of third-party for validation and directed the appointment of a renowned third party at the cost of a construction company.
The prime minister directed for expeditious completion of the project by advising the relevant officials to give special incentives to the workforce.
The premier, visited the Arfa Kareem underpass first and then Kalma Chowk underpass where he directed to expedite the construction work. He asked the authorities concerned to ensure complete safety and protection of common citizens in the project. Shehbaz Sharif reviewed all parts of the project.
Both the underpasses have been opened for regular traffic, however, some finishing work is undergoing, the prime minister was informed.
Chief Executive Officer of Central Business District Development Authority, Imran Ameen informed the Prime Minister in briefing that all link roads of Kalma Chowk Remodeling Project were operational and the remaining work would be completed after Eidul Fitr.
Punjab’s Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi also accompanied the Prime Minister during the inspection.
