There should be no doubt in every person’s mind that 2018 is the year of General Election, and therefore, political leaders from different political parties have started visiting various areas to gain public favour as part of their political campaigns.

However, a man who goes by the name of Shahbaz Sharif, and who also happens to be the Chief Minister of Punjab, stands out among all of them. ‘Why?’

The answer is simple. Shahbaz Sharif is a man who believes in delivering to the masses, and this is a major reason that his actions speak louder than his words. The whole narrative of Shahbaz Sharif’s politics revolve around imitating projects that are purely based on public welfare, and this is a major reason that under his splendid leadership, Punjab in the last nine and a half years has made exceptional progress in the public sector.

The recent visit of CM Punjab to Layyah and Malakwal at Mandi Bahauddin is a brilliant example, where before addressing or making routine promises to the public, he first inaugurated the projects that he earlier had initiated. For instance, in Layyah, the notable projects he inaugurated are Children Ward and CT Scan facility in the District Headquarters Hospital, and the different uplift projects included Layyah Chowk Azam dual carriageway and sewerage schemes. Similarly in Malakwal, a small town of Mandi Bahauddin District, he launched the construction of Road Bridge over the Jhelum River, which was an old demand of the public there, and its fulfillment would save time and reduce distance to travel between Pind Dadin Khan and Malakwal. This mega project is also accompanied with 94.30 km long dual carriageway from Gujrat to Salam interchange via Mandi Bahauddin, construction of District Headquarters Hospital Malakwal and construction of Government Degree College for Girls in Bosal town of Mandi Bahauddin District.

The results of Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Programme started during his tenure are apparent, as now small towns like Malakwal and Bosal,and the villages adjacent to them are easily connected with the major cities.

What is significant is the response of the locals from both the cities, who as per media reports were hugely excited about CM’s visit, and all of them unanimously said that Shahbaz Sharif should become the next Prime Minister of Pakistan.

What a charged crowd it was at Malakwal.. Their chants resonated with their emotions. My conviction has further been reinforced that when you burn your midnight oil in serving the masses, they do respond. Vote of Mandi Bahauddin will be for politics of development inshaAllah!

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) January 25, 2018

Not only is Shahbaz Sharif keen about development of public sector, but at the same time he is actively working to eradicate the deeply rooted corruption among the government institutions. An outstanding recent example of it is the Chiniot mining scandal, whose lease was fraudulently and illegally awarded by the Punjab government in 2007, to a close relative of a top civilian aide of the then ruler.

Upon assuming the office of Chief Minister Punjab in 2008, Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif took on the powerful corruption mafia, and initiated legal proceedings to reverse the massive plunder of national wealth. In 2010, the Chief Justice Lahore High Court Mr Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, in his verdict, described the 2007 award of contract as "a heartless breach of public trust."

After recovery of the project, CM Punjab himself took multiple presentations from globally recognised and credible experts, to ensure quality and continuity of the work. It is this responsive action that has eventually pressed National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as well to order the reopening of investigation into alleged irregularities in Chiniot Iron Ore project.

This is Shahbaz Sharif, who due to his workaholic nature is working day in and day out to serve the people of Punjab, and as a good administrator he is even acknowledged by his critics too.

His own party PML-N now has an absolute consensus over Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif as party's candidate for the position of Prime Minister, in the upcoming General Election, since everyone feels that he has risen to prominence because of his hard work and performance.

Great governance comes through personified qualities of morality, transparency, effectiveness and comprehensiveness, and this is where Shahbaz Sharif has truly made his mark.