LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that former premier Nawaz Sharif would turn Pakistan into progressive state if his party gets another chance to rule country.

“Under leadership of Nawaz, PML-N delivered on ground and those who were conspiring against state had got their conspiracies buried,” he said while addressing cheques distribution ceremony under Prime Minister Youth Business and Agriculture Loan scheme.

Lauding statesmanship qualities of his elder brother, he regretted that former Prime Minister was ousted from power despite fact that he had ended hours long crippling load shedding, provided laptops and loans to youth, brought muti-billions China Pakistan Economic Corridor power and road infrastructure projects during 2015. He said that all youth programmes were started during tenure of Nawaz Sharif as alone 50,000 vehicles were provided to people on merit across Punjab province.

Success of loan scheme could be gauged from fact that 99 percent loans were returned back to banks, he added. He elaborated that PTI Chairman Imran Khan who was brought to power through “fraud elections”, kept on chanting corruption charges during his four years’ tenure but did not prove them.

He mentioned that PTI’s tenure was tainted with huge corruption scams including sugar and wheat scams, BRT Peshawar, Malam Jabba, sale of Toshakhana gifts, Rs 60 billion money embezzlement returned by UK agency etc and said that no one could deny these stark facts. He said during his tenure, about one million laptops were given to youth and PTI leadership blamed them of using scheme as bribe.

He stressed that these laptops were given purely on merit and if proved otherwise, he would be held accountable as these resources belonged to country.

Meanhile, Shehbaz Sharif directed formulation of policy for establishment of one-window facilitation centers for resolving issues of exporters. Prime Minister issued directives while talking to delegation comprising members of Parliament and office bearers of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI). Delegation paid tribute o Prime Minister on final approval of agreement with International Monetary Fund and revival of country’s economy. PM was briefed about issues faced by Chamber.

PM Shehbaz thanked members of delegation for standing shoulder to shoulder during hard decisions taken in interest of country.

He directed administration in Sialkot for construction of highways and their maintenance and restoration. Office bearers of SCCI including President Abdul Ghafoor, senior Vice President Wahab Jehangir, Vice President Amir Majeed Shaikh, President Women Chamber Dr Maryam Nauman, Sohail Barlas and Sarfraz Bhatti were present in meeting.

Published in The Daily National Courier, July, 17 2023

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