Violation of the Constitution and trampling of democratic values have become almost a daily routine and even after 65 years after the country's independence, ideals of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah remained unrealised, President of Pakistan Muslim League-N Nawaz Sharif said on Sunday.
Criticising the present state of affairs, he said that it was lamentable that the nation faced the spectres of darkness and poverty, unemployment, disease and backwardness.
Lashing out against the rulers, he said that they (the rulers) were wandering around the world with a begging bowl in their hands, adding that the national economy was being run on charity and loans.
Pakistan's sovereignty, he said, was at stake, adding that it was blamed for every catastrophe that happened anywhere in the world.
Highlighting the disillusionment of skilled Pakistanis, he said that they were migrating to other countries in droves.
Accusing the federal government of ruining the country's industrial sector, he said that a new scandal of corruption emerged almost every day.
He said that the Constitution, democracy, judiciary and parliament were being jeopardised to hide money accumulated through corruption, adding that it was all the more deplorable, as it was occurring in a country which was created for the supremacy of law.
Addressing a function at Alhamra in connection with the 65th Independence Day of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif said that the tendency to violate the Constitution and trample democratic values had weakened Pakistan's foundations.
He said that democratic institutions had not flourished because of the desire of undemocratic forces to undermine people's right to rule the country.
However, Nawaz Sharif said, there was still hope for a better tomorrow provided the nation showed its determination to change the course of history.
Highlighting Muslim League's historical achievements, he said that PML-N was the party of the Quaid-i-Azam and it has taken upon itself the responsibility to transform Pakistan in accordance with the vision of Allama Iqbal and the Quaid-i-Azam.
PML-N, he said, would not allow anyone to play with the country's future, adding that his party would bring the nation out of the darkness of despair and despondency.
Highlighting achievement of his previous governments, he said that PML-N's leadership was committed to safeguard national sovereignty and integrity.
Delineating his party's future priorities, Nawaz Sharif said that if given power, PML-N would make the country one of the strongest economies of the world.
He said that PML-N had made 3Es part of its top priorities in its manifesto: energy, economy and education.
According to him, circular debt was the basic cause of chronic power outages. He said that circular debt could be eliminated "within six months" and the power crisis could be overcome to a large extent "within two years". Stressing the need to tackle water shortages on a priority basis, he said it had paralysed the national economy.
Nawaz Sharif said that PML-N had also formulated a stimulus package, promoting investment and reviving factories and mills which had been closed down.
He said that promotion of small industries was also one of PML-N's priorities, adding that it could help eliminate unemployment.
Pakistan, he said, could earn huge amounts of foreign exchange by promoting its agriculture sector, adding that setting up of industries in rural areas could result in generation of job opportunities for rural youth. He said that loans would be offered to educated youth under a self-employment scheme, enabling them to set up their own business and achieve economic self-sufficiency.
He said that PIA and Railways could be transformed into "best institutions of Asia".
Highlighting the country's rich natural resources, he said that Pakistan would be made a model of peace and harmony where businessmen would be able to invest without any fear. He said that terrorism and extremism would be rooted out. Promotion of the IT sector was also on top of PML-N's agenda. pivot of the economic agenda of PML-N.
Mian Nawaz Sharif said that it was a matter of satisfaction that because of the pro-active role of the opposition, civil society and media, positive changes were being witnessed in the society.
He said that various constitutional issues had been resolved unanimously and the selection of Chief Election Commissioner had been made unanimously for the first time in the country's history. He said that it was high time to look forward and bring about meaningful changes in the country.
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