LAHORE, June 25: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has held President Asif Ali Zardari responsible for all the ills facing the country.

Talking to reporters at his tent office at Minar-i-Pakistan here on Monday, the chief minister said the agonizing power loadshedding had placed the nation not only in a painful situation but also brought the country’s economy to the brink of disaster as no-one knew why the people of Punjab were being victimized.

He said it was a grave injustice that industries and mills in rest of the country were operating six days a week, but in Punjab only three to four days because of excessive loadshedding.

Mr Shahbaz recalled that former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had announced uniform loadshedding throughout the country, but the decision was never implemented.

Had problems of the people been fully realized, the decision of uniform loadshedding across the country would have been implemented, he said.

YOUTH POLICY: The chief minister says that, by announcing the youth policy, the Punjab government has provided a platform to the younger generation to show their talent and innate capabilities.

He said the Youth Festival 2012 was being arranged and activities of this event would be held at union council, tehsil, district, division and provincial levels.

The chief minister revealed this while sending delegates to different districts for promoting the Punjab Youth Festival at his tent office at Minar-i-Pakistan here on Monday.

Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, well-known players Manzoor Junior, Shahnaz Sheikh, Muhammad Saqlain, Kiran Khan and Manzoor Ahmed were also present.

Meanwhile, a delegation of youth also met the chief minister at his tent office to discuss the mega event of the Punjab Youth Festival.

APPOINTED: The Punjab government has appointed Assistant Advocate General Punjab Faisal Rafique Malik as Additional Advocate General Punjab. A notification was issued on Monday in this regard.