LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will shortly convene an all-party conference to devise a joint line of action to tackle the menace of terrorism.This was stated by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif after attending the Punjab Assembly session on Wednesday.
“Terrorism is an old problem and not a new phenomenon, and the prime minister and the interior minister are taking steps to resolve the issue. Besides, the prime minister is also going to invite political leaders soon to devise a national policy to counter terrorism,” he said.
About the treason case against Gen Pervez Musharraf, the chief minister said the case did not relate to Oct 12, 1999, and rather a result of suo motu notice taken by the Supreme Court regarding the arrest of judges on Musharraf’s orders.
He said Nawaz had no vindictive intention against anyone.
Speaking in the house after the approval of demands for grants, he said people gave a historic mandate to the PML-N; the party bagged 84 per cent of votes in Punjab.
Shahbaz said the main difference between 1997 and 2013 elections was that there had been only two major parties in 1997 elections whereas in 2013 the people got a choice of a third party.
He called the budget comprehensive and reflective of the PML-N vision.
He said the opposition leader and others gave proposals regarding budget and expressed their point of view and he assured the house that the process of consultation with the members would also continue in the future as well.
He said the energy crisis had become the issue of survival of country and the problem would be overcome through collective wisdom and untiring efforts.
The chief minister said the Punjab government had allocated Rs22 billion for energy, but the amount was insufficient and more funds would have to be earmarked for the purpose.
He said energy projects would have to be implemented through public-private partnership.
Shahbaz said conversion of streetlights, offices, hospitals and educational institutions to solar energy was being considered for overcoming the shortage of energy.