LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday said the first priority of government bodies should be the restoration of peace in the country, DawnNews reported.

Speaking to media representatives, he said that peace would automatically lead to greater employment opportunities.

Criticising the Pakistan People's Party-led government at the centre, Shahbaz said millions had been looted from the country in the past four years.

The country's problems could only be resolved by voting out the current government, he said.

The provincial chief minister said that standing by the people while they suffered from load-shedding was a decision of the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N).

The federal government's corruption has led to the issue of circular debt, Shahbaz said, adding that the people had been deprived of their livelihoods.

The chief minister said that if the country's wealth was recovered from corrupt leaders and officials, the country's power crisis could be resolved in a period of 24 hours.

He said people had been driven to a point where they wanted employment and electricity over democracy.