Share this story!            

Pakistan was on verge of bankruptcy under PPP: CM

* Pakistan Muslim League will open offices at every union council

Staff Report

LAHORE: The large-scale corruption and indiscipline of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) under Benazir Bhutto brought Pakistan to the verge of bankruptcy, said Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi while addressing a public meeting at Ladhar in Jhelum district on Thursday.

All institutions were in decline and irregularity and malpractice were the hallmarks of PPP rule, he said. The PPP gave nothing but violence, poverty and prejudices to the people, he added. It introduced politics of mudslinging and agitation, Elahi said, adding that the party was again trying to hinder the development process.

Pakistan is now on the road to progress and prosperity, as local and foreign investment is increasing, the chief minister said. The Punjab Education Sector Reforms Programme (PESRP), which was initially for three years, has been extended to 10 years, he added. Excellent results have been achieved due to effective monitoring of the PESRP, he said. All middle schools of the province are being upgraded to high schools, Elahi said.

An investment of $500 million has been made in Chakwal, which will create 40,000 new jobs, the chief minister said. The Pakistan Muslim League (PML) will sweep the forthcoming local bodies elections and 2007general elections, he predicted. The PML will win all seats from Jhelum, he concluded.

Chaudhry Shahbaz Hussain, federal minister for population welfare, and Farrukh Altaf, Jhelum district nazim, also addressed the gathering.

The chief minister said earlier that the PML would open offices at every union council to popularise its manifesto among the masses.

Presiding over a meeting on PML reorganisation, the chief minister directed the party’s office-bearers to activate its media committees. He asked them to implement proposals from party workers with regard to development projects. Any statements from PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain should be considered party policy, he added.

Elahi directed Chaudhry Zaheeruddin, provincial minister for communication and works and the PML Punjab general secretary, to accelerate the pace of development in Lahore. PML reorganisation is vital to good governance, he stressed. He pledged measures to improve the behaviour of party office-bearers who were not people-friendly.

Mian Amer Mehmood, Lahore district nazim, and Mian Munir Ahmad, PML Lahore president, also attended the meeting.

Home | National

Share this story!