KARACHI: Starting his party`s election campaign from Karachi on Monday, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president Shahbaz Sharif sought the support of the business community, vowing to turn the metropolis into a city like Paris by announcing a special package for its development ifvoted to power again.

He expressed these views during his interaction with business and industry leaders at the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) office, with the media at the Quaid-i-Azam mausoleum and with PML-N leaders in different constituencies including NA-249 from where he is contesting the election for the first time.

The PML-N president unfolded his socio-economic agenda at the FPCCI focusing on four major issues confronting Karachi after hearing complaints related to water crisis, poor infrastructure, mass public transport system, solid waste management and high cost of doing business.

Mr Shairf said the country was facing two seriousissues terror-ism and prolonged power outages when his party was voted to power in 2013. He said the federal and Punjab governments made massive investment from their resources in establishment of new power plants instead of waiting for the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Monetary Fund or other donors to support the projects.

He said that if another opportunity was given to his party, the federal government would make special allocation for Karachi`s development.

Mr Sharif claimed that his party didn`t believe in mud-slinging or blame game. However, he said, all the civil and military governments had neglected Karachi in the past. Karachi`s water crisis could be solved within two to three years and the solid waste management issue could be handled within six months, he added.

The PML-N president said Karachi deserved all modern facilities `even prior to Lahore`. He said the Metro bus service and Orange Line train should have come to Karachi first. If given another opportunity to serve the people, the PML-N would introduce the mass transport system in the metropolis, he claimed.

About investment, he said a bold decision would have to be taken regarding the state enterprises which were incurring huge losses without giving much production.

Regarding water crisis, the PML-N president said the most viable and suitable solution was Bhasha dam. The Bhasha dam, he said, would not only produce 4,000MW power but millions of gallons of water could be stored. It could be completed up to 70 to 80 per cent within the next five years, he maintained.

Visit to mausoleum After offering fateha and recording his impressions in the visitors` book at the Quaid`s mausoleum, the PML-N president claimed he would not rest until Pakistan was turned into a welfare state after getting victory in the coming elections.

Talking to the media at the mausoleum, Mr Sharif said Pakistan would be turned into a developed country as per vision of the Quaid. He said he started PML-N`s 2018 election campaign from the city of Quaid this day.

The PML-N president also met local PML-N leaders and prominent citizens at a local hotel, followed by a visit to his constituency NA-249 comprising areas of Baldia Town where he addressed corner meetings.

Addressing his election meeting in Football Ground of Baldia Town, Mr Sharif vowed to set up 500-bed hospital, a technical training centre besides introducing Metro Bus and Orange Train service in the town.