Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif Saturday said the country needs political stability to bring it forward as a dignified and respectable nation in the comity of nations. While addressing a ceremony held to distribute interest-free loans among 25,000 families under the Chief Minister's Self Employment Scheme, here at Badshahi Mosque, Shahbaz maintained that the country cannot afford unrest, may Allah Almighty give strength to governments, politicians and others to serve the masses.
Expressing his resolve to eradicate poverty in the country, Shahbaz said, if voted to power as a result of 2018 general elections, they would issue many hundreds billions of rupees loans to deserving families. On one side, there are those people who returned their loans, while there are others who got their loans written off and leading a luxurious life, he said, adding: "There is 'Ahrafia' in the country which got their billions of rupees loans written off using influence and position."
Shahbaz said that about 1.8 million people in Punjab are earning respectable livelihood after getting interest free loans. He assured that rate of interest free loan may be enhanced from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000. Shahbaz further said that elimination of loadshedding is the historic achievement of PML-N government. The darkness of loadshedding, which was earlier spread everywhere, has been eliminated and the commitment and hard work, with which energy projects have been completed, have no resemblance in the 70-year history of the country.
"We have given priority to public service, instead of indulgence in the politics of lies and baseless allegations, he said, adding: "The people will decide the fate of those who have served them and those who obstructed the journey of development with the power of their votes in the general elections of 2018."
Shahbaz said they had served the people with commitment and hard work and Allah Almighty will give reward of sincere efforts and devotion. He added that industrialization on large scale is required to eradicate the problem of unemployment and poverty.
He said joint coordinated efforts are needed to materialize the dreams of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal. He said the difference between haves and have-nots would have to be reduced by extending equal opportunities to all. He also paid glowing tributes to Dr, Amjad Saqib of Akhuwat Foundation for introducing the concept of interest free loans for deserving people.