However, guests at the impressive ceremony held near Flashman’s Hotel, the starting point of the MBS, including the sitting federal and provincial legislators, the defeated candidates of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), members of the civil society and the elite of town were disappointed as neither the prime minister nor the chief minister spared even a few moments to mingle with them as they had been doing in the past. Several bureaucrats also waited in vain for at least a handshake by the prime minister to mark their recognition.
“It was on such occasions that we used to get an opportunity for a brief chat with the prime minister otherwise it is now almost impossible to have a one-on-one meeting with him,” a ruling party MP remarked to The News. “This policy needs to be reviewed.”
Both Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif were in a hurry. They came, saw a few minutes’ documentary on the MBS, deliveredSharif were in a hurry. They came, saw a few minutes’ documentary on the MBS, delivered their written and extempore speeches and quickly left the scene. It was clear from their arrival and departure that they were hard-pressed because of time and had a lot to do elsewhere. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was no different. He came with them and quickly left with them. He has become much preoccupied because of talks with the Taliban.
The prime minister had a very busy schedule on Sunday and could not manage to squeeze time to mix with the guests at the MBS ceremony.At 8 in the morning, he chaired a meeting on the forthcoming talks of the government committee with the advisory council of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), then attended the Pakistan Day function at the Presidency, and subsequently presided over the MBS function before going from here straight to the airport to fly abroad to attend a conference.
Those who have been attending such functions of Nawaz Sharif for years during his previous governments say that he was always easily accessible on these occasions. The security concerns now weigh heavily on every mind and are apparently a major hurdle in his mingling.
However, both the brothers delivered passionate speeches, bemoaning the wastage of time and resources by their predecessors. The prime minister also said that some small countries, which were far behind Pakistan a few decades, have now gone far ahead of our country because of development and progress due to the sincerity of the leadership.
Conversely, he stated, successive rulers pushed Pakistan into deep abyss. Terrorism is one such menace created by them, he said. In the last 65 years, Pakistan has not progressed much due to their wrong approaches and strategies.
Workaholic Shahbaz Sharif has publicly announced to complete gigantic MBS project in just ten months, which would be a sort of rare record. Though the project is presently estimated to cost Rs44.5 billion, it would certainly involve considerably more public money. Development work amounting to approximately Rs5 billion would have to be executed every month to meet the deadline.
The prime minister lauded the capability and capacity of Shahbaz Sharif and said the chief minister has proved his talent by completing the Lahore MBS in a record period.The chief minister conceded that he had not correctly estimated the share of the Punjab and federal governments in funding the MSB. It was early 50-50 formula. But he said he has now come to know that his government will have to spend increased funds, and therefore, he requested the prime minister to hike the federal share to which Nawaz Sharif agreed.
The officials of the federal and Punjab government, who would be supervising the project, would be required to be extra vigilant and watchful, and may have to spend sleepless night as the chief minister is expected to spend much of his time in looking after each and every stage and detail of the project with his physical presence here. If he did not do so, it can’t be completed in ten months.
It will be a great challenge for Shahbaz Sharif, whose government, however, surpasses all other provincial administrations due to its good governance and efficiency. The officials who have worked with him in Punjab know his style of work and had been coming up to his expectations, but no such culture exists at the federal level since long. Many heads may roll for inefficiency as work on the MBS project proceeds.
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