CHITRAL, Sep 7 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said despite propaganda of opponents, the government’s journey of national development and prosperity would continue unabated.
“I neither take notice of those doing agitational politics, neither respond to them. People themselves give a better “reply” to such elements by not paying heed to their call,” he said in his address to a gathering from people of Chitral and adjoining area.
The Prime Minister said he could only pray for the guidance of such elements, adding “may Almighty give them a realization to instead focus their energies on making the country prosperous”.
Nawaz Sharif said it was his dream that all political opponents unitedly work for the development of country.
“We have no grudge against anyone and only believe in working together,” he said, adding had there been any malice, the Pakistan Muslim League-N had not let other political parties to form governments in provinces.
The Prime Minister who arrived here on a day-long visit announced construction of a university, a 250-bed hospital under the PM’s Health Programme and several road links in Chitral.
He also vowed completion of Lowari Tunnel project by June next year, a project which has been lingering on, since 1955.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said he had great affinity
for the people of Chitral and had been frequently visiting the
area to oversee development projects.
“For me, Chitral is no less important than Lahore, Karachi
or any other city and I want this area to be developed at par
with rest of country,” he said.
As the gathering responded enthusiastically to his speech,
the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that majority in Chitral could now comprehend national language Urdu, recalling their little understanding when he earlier visited the area during his tenure of government in 90s.
Nawaz Sharif said he believed in political harmony and
mentioned the presence of Shahzada Iftikharuddin, the Member National Assembly from Chitral belonging to former president General Pervez Musharraf’s All Pakistan Muslim League and District Nazim Chitral Maghfirat Shah of Jamaat-e-Islami.
“It doesn’t matter to which party these people belong
to. I will be supportive to them for the development of
Chitral,” he said.
The Prime Minister mentioned that his government had
released Rs 27 billion for the early completion of Lowari
Tunnel, which was facing delay due to neglect of previous
governments.
He termed the project’s delay “utterly ruthless”
towards the people of Chitral and said his government
was acting swiftly for redressal.
He said Rs 17 billion were being spent on construction
of Chitral-Lowari-Chakdara road, adding that it would be
similar to a motorway.
Nawaz Sharif said the announcement of a university
in Chitral, made for the first time in 70 years, would
help mainstreaming of local youth in national development
process.
He mentioned construction of a 108 mega watt Golan
Gol Hydropower project in Chitral, which would benefit
atleast 100 towns.
He directed the Chairman National Highway Authority
to complete feasibilities of three road projects including
Shandur-Mastuj road via Chitral, and Garam Chashma and
Bamborait roads from Chitral.
The Prime Minister announced a grant of Rs 200
million for Chitral’s district government, to be spent
on the uplift of streets, Bazars and sanitation.
Adviser to PM Engineer Amir Muqam in his speech
said the massive gathering had demonstrated that
the people of Chitral were aware of the government’s
sincerity of continuing with the agenda of development.
MNA Chitral Shahzada Iftikharuddin said Nawaz
Sharif had brought the “real change” of development in
the country, contrary to the politicians who only
believed in politics of sit-ins.
He said with ample funds released by Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif, the long-awaited Lowar Tunnel project would
be completed next year.
District Nazim Chitral Maghfirat Shah mentioned that
development project worth Rs 60 billion were being carried
out in Chitral, which would improve the living standard
of locals.
President PML-N Chitral chapter Saeed Ahmed Khan
expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on
inauguration of development projects in Chitral and said
the previous government neglected the area.
He said Nawaz Sharif promoted politics of values and
decency in the country.
Minister for Information Technology Anousha Rehman and
former Governor Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Sardar Mehtab Abbasi were present.
