Punjab Has No Room Left for Qabza Mafia, Sifarish

Key Points:

Punjab Information Minister Uzma Bukhari has said anger over a deputy commissioner of one’s own choice not being posted is unjustified
She said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz makes postings on merit and policy; the culture of sifarish and political affiliation has been ended for good
There is no room left in Punjab for the qabza mafia and extortionists; the practice of rewarding dera servants with government posts through sifarish is also over
The provincial budget has been transferred transparently to smaller cities, with uniform development projects under way across Punjab
Laptops, scholarships, electric buses and houses are reaching citizens across the province without any check of political affiliation

LAHORE: Anger over a deputy commissioner of one’s own choice not being posted is unjustified, because postings and decisions in Punjab are now made on merit alone.

Punjab Information and Culture Minister Uzma Bukhari said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz does not appoint deputy commissioners at anyone’s bidding. Reacting to Chaudhry Salik Hussain’s statement, she said every posting follows merit and government policy.

She said the culture of decisions based on personal likes and dislikes, recommendations and political affiliation has been ended forever. The old practice of rewarding the servants of deras with government posts through recommendations has also come to an end.

The minister said there is no room left in Punjab for the qabza mafia and extortionists. “Salik Hussain should not make a hole in the plate he eats from,” she said.

Salik Hussain should not make a hole in the plate he eats from.

She said Mr Hussain should have ascertained the facts from Shafay Hussain before issuing a statement on the matter.

Equal Development Across the Province

The minister said the chief minister has transferred Punjab’s budget to the smaller cities in a transparent and equitable manner. For the first time, uniform development projects have been launched in every city without discrimination.

Roads are being built across the province under the programme. She said development is no longer confined to Lahore alone. The minister said every citizen has the same right over provincial resources and the provincial exchequer as a citizen of Lahore.

Laptops and scholarships given to children in Lahore are also reaching students in Gujrat, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan, Sahiwal and Sargodha. She said electric buses running in Lahore were also serving the people of Multan, Vehari and Rahim Yar Khan.

She said houses are being built for deserving families across Punjab under the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar programme. The Lahore sanitation system, she added, has been extended to the province’s rural areas.

The minister said the chief minister does not ask about the political affiliation of a farmer before giving him a tractor, or of a student before a laptop or scholarship. Every decision is taken without discrimination.

She said Maryam Nawaz is the first chief minister of Punjab who has paid the expenses of using the official aircraft from her own pocket. Her government has spent Rs12 billion in Gujrat, a first in the district’s history. She said Gujrat is receiving its fair share for the first time.

She said development works in Gujrat that should have been completed decades ago had now been carried out by the present government.

The minister said the government’s policy is clear: every city, every area and every citizen must receive equal development opportunities and a fair share of resources. No area is ignored on the basis of political affiliation or personal preference.