LAHORE, Dec 18: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday said the Punjab government would provide 250,000 solar lamps to the outstanding students to eliminate darkness created by the PPP government.

“These solar lamps, being bought at a cost of Rs4.4 billion, will serve as a slap on the face of the federation that has pushed citizens of Pakistan into darkness,” he said.

Speaking at the Toppers Convention 2012 at Alhamra Cultural Complex, the chief minister said the federal government had plundered resources and made Pakistan a beggar.

He said the PML-N government was empowering youth, who would transform Pakistan into a donor country. He said the Punjab government had given cash prizes worth Rs550 million to position holders from all provinces.

“Even if only 10,000 laptop recipients become IT experts, Pakistan can be transformed into Silicon Valley,” he added.

Criticising the previous government for spending Rs2 billion on the construction of the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in GOR-I, Shahbaz claimed he had not entered the building since assuming the office. He said he had also ordered to stop construction of a luxurious complex for ministers costing Rs650 million.

He also distributed cash prizes of over Rs110 million among the position holders as well as heads of educational institutions.