Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif Friday said the nation would have to make a resolve that they would live with their own means instead of relying on others and would adopt simplicity and austerity for the progress of the country. He said, "Pakistan was not created for elite only, but it is the country of 170 million people."
The Chief Minister said the people would have to pledge that they would utilise all their energies and resources for transforming Pakistan as envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Poet of the East Allama Muhammad Iqbal. He said they would have to renew their determination that they would make every sacrifice for the survival and solidarity of the country.
Shahbaz Sharif said, "We would have to learn from our past mistakes and move ahead with greater vigour and determination for a prosperous future for the country with the collective efforts by all the segments of the society." He was addressing the flag hoisting ceremony here at Hazoori Bagh along with two top position holders of matriculation examinations to mark the Independence Day.
Provincial Ministers, Members National and Provincial Assemblies, City District Nazim, senior government officers, teachers, intellectuals as well as a large number of students were present on the occasion. The Chief Minister said, "The 14th August is the most important day in the national history as it is on this day that the Muslims of sub-continent got rid of the subjugation of British and Hindus."
He said the Pakistan Movement gave them the message of untiring efforts for achieving objectives. He said, "The Independence Day is also an occasion of thanks-giving to Almighty Allah for having blessed us with freedom." However, he said, they would also have to think on this occasion whether they were among living, proud and independent nations.
He said they had faced more failures than successes during the last 62 years. He said Pakistan had become a nuclear power despite all problems, but if the country did not change the policies of reliance on foreign aid its nuclear assets could be at stake.
He said no country could achieve progress and prosperity with foreign assistance and there was a need for surviving with own resources and talent for making Pakistan an Islamic welfare and democratic state. Shahbaz Sharif said that they would strive for promotion of education and science and technology instead of begging from others.
He said they would have to learn to live with their own means rather than looking toward others. He said despite a passage more than 60 years since the creation of Pakistan they were still far away from their goal and the country was facing a number of crises. He said the recent Gojra tragedy had tarnished the image of the country. He made an appeal to ulema to promote tolerance, restraint and harmony in the society and benefit from modern knowledge for playing their due role in national development.
The Chief Minister further said the Independence Day was also the day of self-reckoning to determine how far they had succeeded in fulfilling responsibilities towards stability and progress of the country.
He said it was true that Pakistan was created for the purpose of securing the identity of Muslims in South Asia but according to the Founder of Pakistan the purpose of an independent country was to provide a better opportunity to the Muslims of this region for economic development and prosperity. He said the Punjab government was making sincere efforts for transforming the vision of Quaid-e-Azam into reality and formulating such policies which could bring a positive change in the life of common man. He said though it was late but they had time to change the destiny of the nation with hard work, commitment and dedication.