CPNE delegation lauds Shehbaz’s performance
A delegation of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) led by its president Zia Shahid on Tuesday called on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The delegation appreciated the performance of the Punjab Information Department over the release of government advertisements and settlement of their dues.
CPNE President Zia Shahid said that distribution of advertisements in Punjab was being carried out in a transparent manner and the information department had adopted an impeccable mechanism for the distribution of advertisements. “Your team is proactively working,” he added.
The CPNE delegation appreciated the Punjab CM’s performance for speedy development of the province, adding that everyone was convinced of his hard work. They acknowledged that large development works had been carried out in Punjab during the last 10 years.
Members of the delegation said noted that work was not done during the last 10 years in Sindh which had been put in reverse gear instead. They were of the view that there should be a Shehbaz Sharif in Sindh as well.
Meanwhile, talking about media’s role in the upcoming elections, the CPNE president said that the media is highly urged to not display any sort of biasedness during the polls and must continue reporting for the betterment of the country.
Secretary General CPNE Aijazul Haq said that CPNE is the torchbearer of freedom of press and also asked the PML-N government to further ensure promoting the independence on media while also guaranteeing timely distribution of advertisements to newspaper publishers.
Talking on the occasion, Shehbaz said that the nation was moving towards elections and “we hope for free and fair elections”.
“The future of democracy and that of the country lies in it,” he said, adding that people would vote on the basis of performance.
Stressing the ‘important’ role of the media in the context of elections, Shehbaz said facts should be brought out as facts because “the national interest lies in it”. He added, “Baseless allegations are not in the interest of the country.”
The Punjab CM was thankful to the CPNE for its appreciation of the information department and congratulated the department on receiving such accolades. He said the country’s future would be bright by giving equal opportunities to all in the elections.
“Imran Khan was given a wonderful opportunity to implement his 11-point agenda in K-P [Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa] but he did not take benefit of it. We have taken wonderful steps for the improvement of every sector in Punjab,” he said.
The PML-N president said Pakistan had been swirling for the last 70 years and “we must now move forward with joint consultations”.
“There is no need to worry as the country’s future is bright,” said Shehbaz, claiming that the party planned to pursue a vigorous election campaign in Punjab and other provinces.
He informed the CPNE delegation that unique steps had been taken for the development of southern Punjab during the last 10 years. He said 42% development funds were provided for 31% population of southern Punjab and 10% additional quota was allocated for southern Punjab in every development programme.
Shehbaz also said he was sorry if anyone was hurt over Punjab Home Minister Rana Sanaullah’s statement, containing derogatory remarks about women participants of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan on Sunday.
Provincial Ministers Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Rana Mashhood Ahmad, Zaeem Qadri, Punjab government spokesman Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan and others were also present on the occasion.
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