RAWALPINDI: With the start of the new year, the PML-N Rawalpindi chapter has rolled up its sleeves for the local government elections in Punjab expected to be held in the current year, and activated its workers. In this regard, PML-N Metropolitan President and former mayor Sardar Naseem arranged a local government convention at a local hotel in which former chairmen and vice chairmen, ex-councilors and party officials participated. The PML-N leaders and workers announced to fully participate in the upcoming local body elections and complete all development works in education and health sectors, including the TB hospital. They welcomed the provision of funds for schemes at the level of union councils by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting MNA Barrister Daniyal Tanveer Chaudhry, former members of National Assembly Haji Pervez Khan, Malik Shakeel Awan, provincial parliamentary secretary for information Shazia Rizwan, MNA Hanif Abbasi, MPAs Raja Hanif, Ziaullah Shah, Zeinul Nisa Awan, Rifaat Abbasi, Tahseen Fawad and Rahat Qudsi were also present. Speaking on the occasion, the former mayor said the PML-N had turned Rawalpindi into a neat and clean city during its tenures from 2008 to 2018, including launching the Metro Bus Service. Now, it launched many development works for the provision of basic civic facilities. He said during the tenure of PML-N, people expected the government to improve the standard of life of the citizens under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, adding Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had doled out funds for the improvement of civic facilities in the city areas. He said that apart from the development, the provincial government was working to ensure better transport facilities, clean drinking water and improve the land revenue department. “After becoming mayor, I got a term of one and a half years. During this time, we improved the city roads, parks, bazaars and streets. The PDM government under the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif saved the country from bankruptcy. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is working day and night to formulate and complete public welfare projects. Hanif Abbasi has done record development works in Rawalpindi. The city will soon get mega projects,” he said. MNA Daniyal Chaudhry said that the current government was serving and protecting this country day and night. “We will unite and thwart all conspiracies of non-state actors. Those who came to collect bodies at D-Chowk did not get anything. Now politics of burning houses, discrimination and hatred will have to die,” he said. He said we would give pens and books to our children. We will not hand over guns to them. Hanif Abbasi said he accepted a 25-year prison sentence for the party, “but my steps have not wavered. The party has only one leader, Nawaz Sharif, whom everyone recognises. There is no limit to service. I will serve the people above worldly interests and goals.” He added, “We would unite the workers of PML-N at the UC level. We will complete all development works soon and will participate fully in the upcoming local body elections and will give the party leadership the results like 2015.” He said party workers who made sacrifices would get their rightful place. The distribution of tickets in the future will be done through consultation and on merit. No MNA or MPA will interfere, he said.