'Well done Shahbaz,' says Khosa

LAHORE: Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khan Khosa has admired Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for his efforts to control dengue virus in the province.

Replying to the media during his meeting with the LCCI delegation headed by its President Shahzad Malik at the Governor's House here on Wednesday, he said, "Though Shahbaz Sharif's measures against dengue cannot be called perfect as fumigation campaign was started very late, yet the Punjab government is doing well against dengue virus in the given circumstances".

The Punjab governor said even the World Health Organization (WHO) had showed its reservation on the quality and standard of chemicals used by the Punjab government to ward off dengue virus.

Khosa urged collective responsibility of society to maintain cleanliness and control epidemic-like situation in the province, particularly in Lahore.

About PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif's recent statements, Khosa said political leaders should avoid such statements which spread pessimism in society, urging Nawaz Sharif to exhibit political maturity.

About the recent floods, Khosa said it was the need of the hour to conserve water through reservoirs for the benefit of the masses, adding that a comprehensive strategy was needed to transform water into a blessing for mankind rather than a calamity.

To a query regarding Kala Bagh Dam, the Punjab governor said dams were necessary to meet energy challenges of the country, saying that construction of Kalabagh Dam was not to be decided by the federal government but the Committee of Common Interest (CCI) which was authorized to take a decision on the construction of the dams after consultation with the stakeholders and developing consensus among the political parties.

"Dictators like Zia ul Haq and Pervaiz Musharraf bred hatred among the provinces on the issue of building new dams", he asserted.

With reference to floods, the governor said the recent floods were triggered by the climatic changes, adding that federal and provincial government were taking measures to deal with such a situation in the coming years.

The Punjab governor said government stood by the flood-hit people, adding that he felt pain and pangs of people in Sindh and all measures would be taken to mitigate their sense of loss.

Earlier, the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) president Shahzad Malik on Wednesday presented Rs 10 million cheque to Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khosa for the rehabilitation of the flood-affected in Sindh during a meeting at the Governor's House.

Opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz Ahmed and other PPP leaders were also present on the occasion.