Corruption-free culture promoted: uplift projects being executed in transparent manner, says chief minister Punjab

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that corruption-free culture has been promoted in Punjab and all development projects are being executed in a transparent manner. He said that terrorism and extremism were the outcome of poverty, ignorance and socio-economic injustices and promotion of economic activities and equipping the youth with modern education was essential for eradicating this twin menace.
He said that America should co-operate with Pakistan in energy sector for accelerating the pace of development as well as resolving the problems of the people. He stressed upon US Agency for International Development (USAID) to increase its co-operation in education, information technology, agriculture, livestock and other sectors in Punjab.
He was talking to a delegation of USAID led by its Administrator Dr Rajiv Shah that called upon and discussed with him matters regarding co-operation at Chief Minister's Secretariat here on Tuesday.
Shahbaz said the USAID delegation that Pakistan was passing through a critical phase and facing the challenge of extremism and terrorism. He said that Pak Army was playing a commendable role in the war on terror and had proved its mettle by conducting a successful operation in Swat and Waziristan.
He said that Pak Army, Police and people had reshaped history by rendering numerous sacrifices in the war against terrorism and the whole nation stood united to root out this curse. He said that international co-operation was of vital importance in the war on terror and the world community should play an effective role in the development of Pakistan.
He said that there was a need for generation of job opportunities for the youth, promotion of education and economic activities as well as infrastructure development otherwise, the efforts for elimination of terrorism would go in vain. He said that besides military operation, provision of basic facilities to the people of Swat and Waziristan was of utmost importance.
He said that Pakistan was facing serious energy crisis and development in education, health, industrial and other sectors, was not possible without power. He said that America should extend co-operation to Pakistan in energy sector on emergency basis. He said that US co-operation with Pakistan in different sectors was commendable but energy sector had assumed tremendous importance and there was a need for immediate steps for riding the people of load shedding.
Shahbaz further said that all out resources were being utilised for the rapid development of the province and provision of health, education and other facilities to the masses. He said that there was a vast scope of development in agriculture, livestock and other sectors in Punjab.
He said that solid measures were being taken for the elimination of illiteracy and ignorance from the province and Danish Schools were being set up in far-flung areas. He said that this project had been started from Southern Punjab. He said that Punjab Educational Endowment Fund had been established for helping talented students facing financial problems to continue their studies and many such students were now studying at prestigious educational institutions as LUMS with the financial assistance from this fund.
He said that five brilliant students would be sent to Ivy League Universities this year for modern education. He said that information technology was of vital importance in the present age and keeping in view this fact IT Labs had been set up in more than 4,000 schools of the province due to which large number of students from Rahim Yar Khan to Attock were acquiring latest knowledge.
He said that in the next phase the scope of this project would be extended to 8,000 middle schools and later to primary school level. He said that USAID should extended co-operation in this project. He said the elimination of unemployment was also essential for the eradication of extremism, therefore, special attention was being paid to the promotion of vocational education in the province.
He said that Tevta had been made an active and vibrant institution and not only new courses had been introduced but high quality training had also been arranged. He said that foundation of an educational revolution had been laid in the province through setting up of IT labs and activation of Tevta. Shahbaz said that USAID should also co-operate with Punjab government in education sector.
The leader of USAID delegation Dr Rajiv Shah said that America was extending co-operation to Pakistan in various sectors including energy sector. He said that after meeting with the Chief Minister Punjab he had gained knowledge about the priorities of Punjab government and co-operation would be increased in various sectors. He said that USAID office was also being established in Lahore for this purpose.
Commending the steps for the development of education sector, setting up of IT labs and other projects, he said that Punjab government was moving in the right direction. Minister for Education Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Member Punjab Assembly Zaib Jaffar, Chairman Planning & Development, Additional Chief Secretary and Secretary Education were also present on the occasion.