PML-N to award tickets on performance: CM

MULTAN: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif Monday pledged to bring about agricultural and industrial revolution in the country if his party Pakistan Muslim League (N) voted to power in next elections. Inaugurating the Multan Industrial Estate Phase-II, Shahbaz Sharif said his party may not field the sitting parliamentarians who failed to deliver.

Fresh aspirants of party tickets would be given chance in the next elections to serve the masses alongwith those sitting members of the assemblies who had performed well, he asserted.

Criticizing the federal government for failing in tackling energy crisis, Chief Minister said that the country has potential and capability to resolve electricity crisis but, he added the hefty circular debt of Rs. 500 billion was the main hurdle.

Adequate tackling of the circular debt issue can help the government in resolving energy crisis in the country, he said.

 He said sugar mills could help generate 2,000 to 25,00 megawatt electricity in the country.

Shahbaz Sharif maintained that electricity theft accounted for Rs. 200 billion. He claimed that line losses in Punjab were meagre while they were nearly 40 to 50 percent in other provinces.

He said the country had lost exports orders of billions of rupees and job opportunities to millions of workers.

He claimed the PML-N under the vibrant leadership of Mian Nawaz Sharif would bring about agricultural and industrial revolution in the country. About Punjab government achievements, he said feasibility reports of 12 new industrial estates had been completed and work on industrial estates in Vehari and Rahim Yar Khan was underway with rapid pace.

Earlier, he inaugurated the Multan Industrial Estate Phase-II, completed at a cost of Rs. 1500 million over an area of 667 acres.

Chairman Board of Management Shiekh Anees also demanded installation of a 50 megawatt power plant, solar lights and improved sewage system in the industrial estate.

Chairman Punjab Industrial Estate Development and Management Company S M Tanveer, Provincial Minister Haji Ehsaanuddin Qureshi, MNAs Shiekh Tariq Rasheed, Mehmoodul Hassan, Perveze Malik, MPAs Abdul Waheed Aaraen, BZU VC Dr Khawaja Alqama and MCCI President Mohammad Khan Sadozai were also present.