CM rejects proposal to fine plazas

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

Opens Shalimar interchange

Saturday, January 02, 2010
By Our Correspondent

LAHORE

PUNJAB Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said people protesting over the demolition of illegal plazas should have raised their voice for the poor.

The CM was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of Shalimar Interchange on Friday. The CM said that great hue and cry was being raised on demolition of illegal plazas but it would have been much better if those involved in propaganda against the operation against illegal plazas had raised their voices for poor people, widows and orphans deprived of food, education and other basic necessities.

The CM said that action was being taken against high-rise buildings constructed in violation of rules and bylaws. He said that owners of illegal plazas in their lust for money had constructed shops even on the space of mosques. He said those supporting the owners of illegal plazas were doing so only because plaza owners were rich and have constructed such illegal plazas on the basis of their wealth. He said that the staff of the Lahore Development Authority and the City District Government was equally involved in construction of illegal high-rise buildings and will be punished. He said that some people were of the view that fines should be imposed instead of demolishing illegal plazas but that will not be sufficient and this practice will continue indefinitely.

He said that the purpose of propaganda of these people was to give the impression as if the government and departments concerned were in cahoots but he will not be taken in by such tactics. “Why did these elements protesting demolition of illegal plazas were silent when the Punjab government gave a relief package of billions of rupees during Ramzan-ul-Mubarik and despite extreme heat, he and members of his team went to every nook and corner of the province to ensure provision of necessities of life to the poor, widow and orphans,” he said. “Why these elements are raising hullabaloo over demolition of illegal edifices which have narrowed roads and spoiled the beauty of the city,” he said.

He said action was being taken against illegal plazas on the order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan but the interests of widows, orphans and people of middle class will be safeguarded who have been duped into purchasing shops in these plazas and have been kept in the dark about their illegal status. He said those earning their livelihood from such shops will be protected against losses.

The CM said that in order to become a sovereign and proud nation, there was a need to give up the habit of relying on others as political freedom could not be achieved without economic independence.

He said that Pakistan was rich in natural resources and its people are hardworking and industrious but it lacked commitment and determination on part of rulers and elite classes.

He said that in order to achieve the ideals of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal, equitable distribution of wealth will have to be ensured and elite classes will have to change their lifestyle. The CM said that present government under the leadership of Quaid Pakistan Muslim League(N) Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is determined to do away with the existing obsolete system and the people of Pakistan should be ready to play a historic role in this regard.

He said that the mega project of Shalimar Interchange is a milestone in the history of the province and will leave a positive impact on the development of Punjab.

He said that Musharraf during his dictatorial rule paid no attention on development of the country or improvement of infrastructure and only raised hollow slogans. He said that Musharraf talked about the rights of Balochis but in fact he usurped the rights of provinces and created a gulf between them.

He said that about ten years ago, Nawaz Sharif laid the foundation stone of Gawadar Port but on the occasion of signing of NFC Award, he was shocked to see its pathetic condition. He said that Musharraf totally ignored this important place. He said that had only a few billion rupees had been spent on this port, Gwadar would have been a major trade centre of the country. He said that it was ironic that goods reaching Gwadar through ships were first taken to Karachi and then sent to other parts of the country.

He said that had the dictator constructed a road from Rato Dero or laid a railway track the situation would have been much different. He said that there would have been no need for assistance under KLB if loans worth Rs 193 billion written off on political basis had been recovered with fine. He said had national resources not been looted under the NRO, Pakistan would not have been living on the largesse of others and its freedom would not have been compromised for a few pennies. He said that out of 17 crore people of Pakistan only 5 to 10 lakh persons were benefiting from foreign aid and a vast majority of the country could not meet even their basic needs.

The CM said that under the leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif, cruelty and oppression and unjust system of distribution of wealth will be eliminated and Pakistan will be made an Islamic welfare state in the real sense.

Later, the CM inaugurated Shalimar Interchange Project which is the largest in the province. He thanked the FWO, the Lahore Commissioner, the LDA DG, NESPAK, Chairman Taskforce Khawaja Ahamd Hasaan, Khawaja Imran Raza as well as the committee consisting of assembly members and the people of the area on the completion of this gigantic project in a record period of time.

The CM also gave away cheques of Rs 500000 and Rs 200000 to the heirs of those who lost their lives or received injuries in the execution of this project.

Earlier, officers of the FWO while giving a detailed briefing on Shalimar Interchange and Mughalpura Flyover informed that the three-tier interchange was a unique project in the province and has been completed in a record period of time. They informed that the length of flyover was 1.6 kilometres and the underpass was 2.2 kilometre long.

The CM appreciated the performance of FWO towards timely and quality completion of development projects. He said that third-party audit has been made compulsory in all development projects. He said that this spirit of hard work and determination will be maintained for ensuring a dignified status for the country in the comity of nations.

Assembly Members, Engineer-in-Chief Pakistan Army Lt Gen Shahid Niaz, Frontier Works Organization Director General Maj Gen Najeeb Ullah Khan, the Lahore Commissioner and the Lahore Development Authority director general were present there.