Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that only elite segment has been benefiting from national resources for the last 64 years that is why the condition of the common and poor people could not be improved.

He said that we have diverted the resources for the welfare of the downtrodden and poor people.

He said that government of Pakistan Muslim League-N under the leadership of Mian Nawaz Sharif is giving due share to the poor through Aashiyana, laptop, Yellow Cab scheme and Daanish School and other welfare projects.

He said that after the success of Aashiyana Quaid, the project of Aashiyana Iqbal has been launched on Burki Road where a new city comprising 10,000 houses would be set up for the common and poor people.

He said that the Aashiyana Iqbal project would be completed at the earliest.

The chief minister said that he would continue to serve the poor throughout his life and make Pakistan a true Islamic welfare state.

The chief minister announced that after a degree college, a university would also be set up in Aashiyana Iqbal so that facilities of higher education be made available to the people of the area.

He was addressing the foundation stone laying ceremony of Aashiyana Iqbal on Burki Road, here Saturday.

Provincial Ministers Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor, Haji Ehsan-ud-Din Qureshi, Members National and Provincial Assembly, Chairman Punjab Land Development Company and a large number of people were present on the occasion.

Addressing the function, the chief minister said that the government of PML-N has taken an important step towards making the country a welfare state in accordance with the ideals of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal by providing shelter to the poor and common people through Aashiyana housing schemes in the province.

He said that colonies were being established for the ministers and officers till today but no one make any effort to provide shelter to the poor man.

He said that for the first time in the history of the country, Punjab government is constructing residential colonies equipped with modern facilities for the poor, widows, orphans, hapless and heirs of the martyrs and those facilities have been provided in these colonies which were considered the features of elite’s colonies.

He said that early completion of Aashiyana Iqbal would be ensured and he will visit twice a week to review the pace of work there.

He said that like Aashiyana Quaid, all houses in this scheme would also be allotted through a transparent balloting.

He announced that like adjacent localities of Aashiyana Quaid, basic facilities would also be provided to the adjoining localities of Ashiyana Iqbal.

He said that the owners of private land included in this scheme would also be provided alternative land and free houses.

Shahbaz Sharif said that he is thankful to all his political colleagues and government officers who are providing full assistance for these schemes of poor.

The chief minister said that he is also thankful to the Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiyani and Director General Rangers who retrieved the land from rangers taken on lease for Aashiyana Iqbal and the work on a residential project for the poor has been started.

Shahbaz Sharif said that rulers of Islamabad are plundering the national resources ruthlessly and the gang of Ali Baba 40 thieves has made the life of the people miserable by looting national wealth.

He reiterated that the looted money would be recovered from the plunderers and utilised for the welfare of the masses.

He said that the country would be transformed in accordance with the ideals of the founders.

He said that poor people have also right over the resources and these are being spent on the welfare of the poor in Punjab.

He said that we have also realised the dream of the common man of best transport after 64 years.

He said that imported air-conditioned buses are plying in the provincial metropolis and these buses will also be plied in other big cities of the province.

He said that work on the project of Metro Bus Service is also going on speedily for providing rapid transport to the people.

Chairman Punjab Land Development Company Sheikh Alluddin, Member National Assembly Khawaja Saad Rafique and Chief Executive Officer PLDC Agha Momim also addressed the function.

Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif unveiled the plaque of Aashiyana Iqbal project.

source: http://www.Brecorder.com/ Business Recorder / Home> Business & Economy> Pakistan / March 25th, 2012