Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday emphasised the need for a ‘grand dialogue’, involving all stakeholders, for progress in education, health, industries and other sectors of the economy.
During the inauguration ceremony of the first phase of 600-beds at Indus Hospital earlier Sunday, the premier said that the current situation in the country was difficult, but Pakistan will soon progress at a fast pace.
“We have to think beyond personal interest for the country’s progress and development,” he added.
PM Shehbaz also hailed the philanthropists who set up and ran trust hospitals for the needy and ailing, adding that the “sincere sentiments” of good-natured people who work for any government should not be given political colour.
Shehbaz said that during the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) previous tenure, 480,000 deserving children had benefited from the Punjab Education Endowment Fund.
Punjab Governor Muhammad Baligh ur Rehman, Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique and other notables were present on the occasion.
On the occasion, the premier said that the incumbent government had to raise petroleum prices with a heavy heart, as petrol prices skyrocket around the globe.
“However, a monthly subsidy worth Rs2,000 will be provided to millions belonging to the low-income segments of society,” the premier contended during his address at an inauguration ceremony at the Indus Hospital Lahore earlier today.
PM Shehbaz claimed that the former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had not raised petrol prices in time.
He said that measures were being taken to decrease load shedding in the country, and that load shedding for more than two hours a day will not be permitted.
NNI adds: Meanwhile, in order to provide relief to the inflation-hit commuting public, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has made a surprise announcement that government will slash the Metro Bus fare.
He made this announcement while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Indus Hospital in Lahore on Sunday. He said he raised the prices of petroleum products with a very heavy heart blaming previous government for the current economic woes.
But at the same time, the premier, who is known for his efficient administration, announced that his government would cut down the price of Metro Bus ticket to half so that the people could be compensated a bit.
But he did not elaborate when the government would actually cut the prices.
The Metro Bus Service is a safe, efficient, and comfortable fast bus transit system currently operating in four cities of Punjab including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Multan.
When the Metro Bus fare goes down, it is expected that commuters would prefer to use this mass transit facility instead of using other expensive public mode of transportations, especially cabs and autos.
Currently, the fare of Metro Bus is Rs30 and after a 50% cut as announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz its ticket will be available for Rs15.
On could only hope that the premier would also announce a similar cut in the fare of Orange Line Metro Train.