TRANSPARENCY AND DEVELOPMENT SPEEDY PUNJAB

Pakistan Muslim League-N government has always given top priority to progress and transparency. Merit and transparency is such a policy of Punjab government which is appreciated and admitted at different forums including impartial local and foreign institutions, foreign media and credit agencies. Punjab Speed which is also called as "Shehbaz Speed" is used as a phrase in China. Unfortunately, examples of looting national resources in the past cannot be denied but it has not happened in the history of Pakistan earlier that 200 billion rupees were saved in development projects.
A saving of Rs 1406 million through Punjab Austerity Committee in provincial departments during the last eight years is unprecedented and unique example which is worth emulating. As many as Rs 78.5 billion were saved in Orange Line Metro Train, Rs 21 crore in the purchase of buses, Rs 2.8 billion in 50 thousand vehicles of ApnaRozgar Scheme, Rs 2.1 billion in Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, Rs 34.28 billion in Haveli Bahadur Shah Power Plant,Rs 39.44 billion in Baluke Power Plant, Rs 11 billion in Solid Waste Management Project, Rs 54.14 billion in Bhikhi Power Plant, Rs 5.59 billion in project with Albayarak, Rs 5.61 billion in OZPak project, Rs 25 crore in SaafPani Project and Rs 4.6 billion in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan Metro Bus Projects. If sum of Rs 1.4 billion saved due to the efforts of austerity committee is also included then the savings exceed 336 billion rupees. Such examples are rare in the history of Pakistan.
It is and undeniable fact that the credit of promoting transparency and savings in Punjab goes to Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif who adopted zero tolerance policy against corruption and took effective steps for the promotion of merit and transparency and elimination of corruption. Promotion of transparency, elimination of corruption and provision of best services are resulting in improvement of the image of not only Punjab but Pakistan throughout the world. The efforts of the government for elimination of corruption are being acknowledged at international level. Following reports of some local and foreign countries are a proof to its verification.
Punjab government has been declared as the best with regard to good governance and transparency during last three years while KPK government is on second number, Balochistan third and Sindh at fourth number. PILDAT while analysing the quality of good governance of provincial governments during last three years has issued third provincial score card. The prominent institution PILDAT is issuing analysis report on the prospects of strengthening and improving of governance of provincial governments throughout the country since 2013. Through these score cards, the governance of provincial governments can be judged. The analysis report of PILDAT comprises 25 analysis indicators including rule of law, economic managing, social indicators, service delivery and affective administration. Punjab has been declared the best province throughout the country with regard to rule of law, economic management and servicedelivery. It is worth mentioning that Punjab stood first with regard to performance in continuous third survey of PILDAT. Shehbaz Sharif's way of government has become worth following by other provinces. Observers are of this view that Shehbaz Sharif has emerged as a "term and example" of best way of government throughout the country. He is such a politician whose good governance example is quoted in other provinces.
In IRI survey, Punjab government has been declared as the best with regard to performance. According to international republican Institute Survey, Punjab government has secured 79 points while KPK government is seven points below of Punjab with regard to performance. In KPK, PTI government achieved only 72 points. Sindh government under the supervision of PP is on third number by obtaining 54 points while Balochistan government is on fourth number with 48 points.
China and Pakistan are at first and second number regarding reduction in corruption in South Asia respectively. Denmark, New Zealand and Finland have been consistently ranked at first three position. Somalia, South Sudan and North
Korea are also at first, second and third position in lowest level respectively. Transparency International has also verified increase in transparency in Pakistan in its recent report. In a report of prominent global civil society organisation, Transparency International active against corruption, it has been told that Pakistan is at 116th number with 9 point improvement with regard to reduction in corruption. After 1996, Pakistan has come out of the list of lowest one third corrupt countries with regard to reduction in corruption and increase in transparency, while so called shining India of Modi has only improved 5 points. Sri Lanka faced minus 4 points downward with regard to corruption while Bangladesh with 2 points, Nepal and Iran 7 points and China 12 points are moving towards reduction in corruption and increasing transparency. The reportfurther stated that Pakistan is at 116th number with regard to transparency among 176 countries and Pakistan has been given 32 points with regard to transparency while Pakistan was at 138th number in 2007 and out of ten, 2.4 scores were given with regard to transparency. Similarly, in 2012, Pakistan was at 139th number among 174 countries and it was given 27 points out of 100. Pakistan was at 36th number in low level with regard to transparency in 2012. In 2013, Pakistan was at 49th number in low level, in 2014 at 50th number, in 2015 at 52nd number while in 2016 at 61st number. It is worth mentioning that indicators like limited expression of freedom, limits of freedom of judiciary, transparency in political affairs and strengthening of democratic institutions are basis of the report of determination of transparency by Transparency International. The report further stated that due to corruption, people are deprived of basic facilities and facing starvation in a number of countries of the world. Pakistan has left behind India in development race. According to the Asian Age Newspaper, India is behind Pakistan and China in ranking of World Economic Forum. World Economic Forum report 2017 consisting of economic growth and development and other economic indicators has been released in Davos. The report states that Pakistan is at 52nd while India at 60th number among 79 growing economics of the world. According to the report, IDI depends upon 12development indicators. Besides GDP growth, reviewing stability and co-ordinated equality is necessary to judge economic development in a comprehensive manner. Lithonia is at the top 6of the list in growing economic powers, Azerbaijan at second while Hungry at third number. It is worth mentioning that India is behind is economic growth as compared to a number of neighbouring countries. In ranking, China is at 15th, Nepal at 27th, Bangladesh at 36th and Pakistan has been placed at 52nd number. Russia is at 13th and Brazil at 30th while Poland, Rumania, Uruguay, Latonia, Panama, Costa Rica, Chili at the end of the list. Majority of the countries are wasting opportunities of economic growth while lessening inequality as there is a need of evolving a new growth model and sources of measurement, leading policy makers.American Journal Bloomberg in its report regarding financial affairs has termed economic situation of Pakistan very positive. According to BBC, the report of the journal stated that Pakistan Stock Market has put in a good performance, rising 46 percent over the last year, poverty rate has been reduced by half while Pakistan has also dealt with foreign exchange crisis efficiently and its foreign exchange reserves are increasing continuously. It is first time in 15 years that Pakistan has completed successfully three programmes with IMF and also completed its ongoing programmes with Asian Development Bank and World Bank. Deaths due to terrorism have also reduced one third during previous yearswhile Pakistan's growth rate remained 4 percent which is expected to touch 5 percent.
World Rating Agency "Fitch" has acknowledged the achievements under Economic Reforms Agenda of Pakistan's government and given 'B' rating with Stable Outlooks. It stated that Pakistan has made progress with fiscal consolidation, restoring foreign-reserve buffers, lowering inflation and initiating structural reforms and its growth rate will remain at 3.5 percent. Agriculture has been improved. Investment increased due to CPEC and nonperforming loans reduced substantially while there is also possibility of reduction of budget deficit. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has welcomed the declaration of Pakistan's credit rating "B" stable and said that it is the acknowledgement of success of economic policies of present government. According to Fitch forecast, Pakistan will make speedy economic progress, private investment will increase in the country and local demand will strength. Fitch has also appreciated the performance of Pakistan's Banking sector and said that financial indicators of IMF are improving. According to Fitch report, the rate of loan with regard to GDP of Pakistan in medium term will reduce due to financial reforms. Report has stated that the expenditure of the government has reduced due to structural reforms for increasing revenue including withdrawal of a number of tax relaxations. Reduction in budget deficit is expected as a result of policy reforms. Pakistan will face no difficulty in getting foreign loans. According to APP, Fitch has declared that Pakistan's economic future is bright and investment will increase in Pakistan during current year due to restoration of agriculture sector and CPEC projects.Regarding economy of Pakistan, Fitch has stated that local demand will become strong continuously which will increase growth rate and private investment. Fitch has also lauded the performance of banking sector of Pakistan and made forecast that rate of loans in GDP of Pakistan will gradually decrease. This is the result of efforts being made by the present government regarding financial discipline. The report has also highlighted reduction in government budget which has quoted increase in revenue due to structural reforms and withdrawal of different tax relaxations. The report has further stated that budget deficit will gradually decrease due to policy reforms of the government.
The pivot of Pakistan's progress is its manpower which comprise 60 percent youth. Allah Almighty has blessed Pakistan with a number of natural resources. More than 80 percent companies of Overseas Investors Chambers are earning best profit in Pakistan. The priority and vision of the government in energy and infrastructure sectors is clear. Investment of 2500 million dollars is being made in a single project of Thar due to which our black gold will be brought out of earth and changed into energy. No one had thought that Pakistan's capital market will touch the index of 41000 from 19000 index during three years and will bedeclared as the best stock market of the region in emerging markets.Government is focusing on economic stability in first three years and growth on remaining two years. The performance of government in energy sector is certainly a success story. Due to import of LNG, industries of Sindh and Punjab are operating without any interruption. Along with best economic performance, best law & order situation and CPEC projects will make Pakistan an important country of the region but for it we will have to maintain economic stability and consistency in policies in the country.