Punjab Chief Minister, Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that promotion of national integrity and harmony is the need of the hour, as unity and cohesion is the key to a prosperous future. He said that Pakistan was facing serious threats and instead of relying on others, we should cope with all challenges as a living nation.
He said that Punjab government would set up a college in Balochistan, to be equipped with modern facilities, for the benefit of talented Balochi students. He was talking to a 40-member delegation of students belonging to different areas of Balochistan at Chief Minister's Secretariat, here on Tuesday. Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa and Member National Assembly Sardar Yaqoob Khan Nasir were also present on the occasion.
The Chief Minister said that Balochistan was rich in natural resources. He said that Balouch Sardars not only rendered sacrifices in Pakistan movement but also voted in favour of Pakistan but despite a passage of 60 years, the real objectives of the creation of the country had not been achieved.
He said that terrorism and extremism would have to be uprooted in the interest of progress and prosperity of the country, as otherwise no foreign investment or development was possible in any sector. He said that Pakistan had four federating units and unity among them would have to be promoted at any cost. He said that we were like a family and share each other's joys and sorrows.
He said that misconceptions about Punjab in Balochistan could be removed only if we sit together and resolve each other's genuine grievances. He said that all resources of Punjab were at the disposal of Balochi brethren and people of Punjab had set a noble example by extending all out assistance to the victims of the recent earthquake in Balochistan.
The Chief Minister said that elimination of poverty and deprivation, setting up of roads network, promotion of agriculture sector, construction of water reservoirs, promotion of merit and maintenance of law and order was essential for the future of the country. He said that there was a need to rise above petty differences to promote mutual brotherhood for the stability of the country.
He said that Pakistan had weakened due to the wrong policies of the former government but we should not lose hope and struggle for its strength and solidarity. He said that Pakistan was their identity and we would have to transform it in the light of the ideals of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Muhammad Iqbal. He said that promotion of education and elimination of ignorance was his priority but there was a need to ensure justice as well as it is a prerequisite for the survival of the society.
Shahbaz said that an independent judiciary, which could provide justice to the people without fear or favour, could change the destiny of nation. He said that existing education system was class-based and while all facilities were available to the rich students of private schools, the students at public sector schools were facing a number of problems.
He said that in order to remove this disparity, emergency would have to be enforced in education sector. He said that an endowment fund had been established in Punjab with a sum of Rs two billion for the benefit of brilliant male and female students while the quota for Balochi students in professional colleges of Punjab had been doubled.
He said that students of Balochistan who would come up to the merit would also be able to benefit from this fund. He said that as Pakistani we would have to share each other's joys and sorrows.
The Chief Minister paid rich tribute to Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa for his active role in the provision of relief assistance to the calamity-stricken people of Balochistan. Member National Assembly Sardar Yaqoob Nasir said that students of Balochistan were anxious to meet Shahbaz Sharif as he had won the hearts of the people of Balochistan.
He said that Pakistan needed a leader like Shahbaz Sharif who could promote unity and integrity and solve all problems being faced by the country. The Chief Minister advised the students to utilise all their energies for acquiring knowledge for ensuring a glorious future for the country. Later, the Chief Minister presented gifts to the students.
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