LAHORE

PUNJAB Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has said billions of rupees were wasted in the past due to corruption and nepotism in the execution of development projects and the important project of Lahore-Kasur Road worth about Rs 4 billion was an example in this regard.

He stated this while addressing a briefing-meeting regarding Lahore-Kasur Road project at Liliani, Kasur district, on Sunday. Senator Parvaiz Raseed, parliamentarians, Lahore division commissioner and senior officers of the departments concerned were also present.

The chief minister said criminal negligence and inefficiency was shown toward this project. He said if the present government had not taken notice of this state of affairs, billions of rupees of public money would have gone down the drain.

Communication and Works Secretary Maj (Retd) Azam Suleman gave a detailed briefing on the pace of implementation of the project.

Mian Shahbaz Sharif said huge development funds were wasted due to delay and poor standard of construction work.

He said wealth could only be a source of honour and respect if it was earned through honest means. He ordered the authorities to blacklist both the companies engaged in the construction of Lahore-Kasur Road project and assign the remaining work to some other contractor for completion of the project by June 15. He also issued instructions for stern disciplinary action against the officers and staff of the Communication and Works Department and the companies found responsible for delay and substandard construction work.

The chief minister said that after toppling a democratic government, a dictator raised tall claims of his commitment to democracy and public service but the situation was totally different. He said that the dictator not only destroyed democratic institutions but also plundered national resources ruthlessly. He said that the hard-earned money of the people was wasted on substandard development projects and Lahore-Kasur Road project worth four billion rupees was delayed due to criminal negligence. He said that there was no mechanism to check sub-standard construction work and corruption in development projects during that period and payments of millions of rupees were made without completion of development projects. He said that corruption in development projects was the outcome of tripartite unholy nexus between politicians, department officers and contractors. He said corruption and dishonesty had brought the country to the present stage. Had the resources been utilised properly, the county would not have been dependent on others nor the people would have been in such a pathetic condition, he said.

He said that he had visited Lahore-Kasur Road project four times and issued instructions for action against the engineer of the department concerned as well as early completion of the project by the contractors but the project was still pending due to which people were facing serious problems.

The chief minister issued instructions for blacklisting the construction companies engaged in Lahore-Kasur Road project Hassnain Cotex and Eco-West, and observed that the performance of Communication and Works Department was very unsatisfactory and the secretary concerned should plan for the future of the department. He also issued instructions for action against all the officers who were responsible for delay and poor standard of construction work of the project. He directed that the new contractor should complete the remaining work by June 15 by working round the clock and he would be rewarded with cash prize and commendatory certificate if the project was completed within the timeframe.

The chief minister said the present government had promoted a corruption-free culture in the province and third-party audit system had been made compulsory for all development projects on the pattern of 1998 so that every penny of public money could be utilised on the welfare of the masses. He said Pakistan was facing serious problems and loadshedding had not only adversely affected industrial sector but also made the life of the people miserable. He said a comprehensive strategy for generation of power was need of the hour for national development and prosperity. He said it was time for self-reformation for a bright future of a country and solution to people’s problems before it was too late. He said there was a need for learning a lesson from the revolution of Kyrgyzstan and eliminating corruption from society for resolving people’s problems and provision of basic amenities to the masses. He also announced release of funds worth Rs 15 crore for resuming work on Rohi Nullah Kasur.