MULTAN – Governor Punjab Makhdoom Ahmad Mehmood said on Wednesday that the PML-N’s boycott of the commission for creation of new provinces was inappropriate.
“If they (Nawaz League) think that the boycott will boost their vote bank, it’s just a political wish. What I think is that the boycott is inappropriate,” he added while talking to the media persons at the residence of late Senator Malik Salahuddin Dogar after condoling his death with his family members.
To a query, he said that Pir Pagara did not expressed any annoyance on his nomination as Governor. “If he has said anything it was before media. I think he is not annoyed with me.” He said it was his utmost desire to stay in the PML-F, adding that he would decide his line of action if attempts were made to expel him from the party.
He said that the creation of new provinces was imperative for elimination of backwardness and sense of deprivation from South Punjab region. “It will also strengthen the federation,” he added. He said that all the resources of Punjab were being spent on Lahore as a result of which even people like him were also forced to set up industry in Lahore.  Acknowledging the efforts of former prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani for South Punjab province, he said that the approval of unanimous resolution by the national assembly on the issue was his achievement.
He said that the key to set up new province could be found in Lahore as the Punjab government always kept two important portfolios – finance and administration – with it. “We need these two keys so that we can utilise the resources of our region on our soil,” he added. He said that the students of South Punjab could not compete with the students of Lahore in medical and engineering entry tests as well as public service commission examinations because of absence of good educational facilities.
He said that Punjab and National assemblies’ resolution regarding Bahawalpur and South Punjab provinces should not be taken for granted. “The unanimous resolution of Punjab Assembly is quite clear that says that Bahawalpur province should be restored forthwith while a national commission be formed for South Punjab province,” he added.
He said that he was a practical person and he knew how to discharge constitutional obligations as Governor. He said that he knew how to get his vision implemented.
He said that being an industrialist he knew that the textile, sugar and cotton industries earned record profits, although the energy crisis haunted the industry. He said that the incumbent government launched a number of projects for the elimination of energy crisis. “These projects are in pipeline and the impacts will start coming in after six to seven months,” he claimed.
When asked about Mian Shahbaz Sharif’s statement in which the chief minister declared him a two-and-a-half month Governor, he said that it could not be the statement of a human as only Allah Almighty knew about the future. He said that the governor’s office was a constitutional post and it had nothing to do with the interim set up.
“The role of Governor will even increase in interim set up,” he added.