LAHORE: PML-Q senior leader Pervaiz Elahi has challeneged Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for an open debate for his steps that have burdened the province under a heavy debt.

`Billions of rupees loss has been caused by the Shahbaz Sharif and company to the provincial exchequer by stopping incomplete projects of my tenure,` former chief minister Pervaiz Elahi told a news conference at the Muslim League House here on Wednesday.

He presented comparative facts and ñgures of every sector of his government in Punjab (2002-07) and 15 years of Shahbaz.

He said the chief minister`s claim that his government had completed incomplete projects of the previous government was a lie.

`In fact the projects of our time have become target of vindictive attitude and ego of Shahbaz. By scrapping our projects and launching its flop schemes, the PML-N government has caused a loss of billions of rupees to Punjab,` he said.

He regretted that funds already used on the public welfare projects in his tenure had been wasted. `Whenever thework will be resumed on them the cost may escalate manifold,` he said.

He said Shahbaz had stopped free education, free medicines, subsidy to farmers, patrolling posts petrol, journalist colonies, funds for the backward areas, grants for the bars and free treatment of lawyers.

`Shahbaz had wasted all funds on `jangla service` like show piece projects.

The jangla bus service is being given a subsidy of Rs12 billion annually. This is going to be the PIA of Punjab because the airline incurs a loss of Rs10 billion every year,` he said. Staff Reporter