Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that youth will have to come forward and play their active role for resolution of problems of the country as they are future of Pakistan. He said that the key of development and prosperity of the country is with the youth. It would not be wrong if it is said that the youth are bright stars of the country, he added.
The Chief Minister said that the youth should utilize all their energies for meeting the challenges being faced by Pakistan as nation has great expectations with them. He said that Punjab government of Pakistan Muslim League-N is pursuing revolutionary programmes for the welfare of the youth and providing them an honourable status in the society and expressed the hope that we will solve the problems of Pakistan jointly with the youth.
He was talking to position holder students of intermediate examinations belonging to other provinces at Model Town, on Tuesday. Special Assistant Zaeem Hussain Qadri, Shaista Pervaiz Malik, Secretary Higher Education, position holder students of Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Kashmir and Islamabad boards were present on the occasion.
Welcoming the students, Shahbaz Sharif said that Pakistan is rich with resources and our identity is also linked with the motherland. He said that today talented and brilliant students of not only one province but the entire country are sitting here. He said that Punjab government has openly acknowledged the abilities of these students during last four and a half years. He said that besides cash prizes, foreign tours to the prestigious institutions were also arranged. He said that Punjab government has made revolutionary reforms in education, health and other sectors. He said that merit has been promoted in every sector due to which Punjab has become a role model for other provinces.
The Chief Minister said that educational scholarships have been given to 40,000 male and female students through Punjab Educational Endowment Fund. He said that the volume of Endowment Fund has reached to Rs 10 billion and Rs 2 billion are being added every year in this Fund.
Shahbaz said that due to this Fund, the poor but talented male and female students are continuing their studies in renowned institutions like LUMS and NUST. He said that this is a unique project in the 65 years' history of Pakistan. He said if leadership is honest, courageous and committed then every difficult task is also become easy. The CM said that despite worst corruption and nepotism of Islamabad rulers, Punjab government started development and welfare projects of billions of rupees in the province and people are benefiting from these projects. He said that if the leadership is visionary, then such public welfare projects are launched which directly benefit the people.
Shahbaz Sharif said that the real message of birthday of Quaid-e-Azam is to maintain peace in the society and provide equal opportunities of development, socio-economic justice and equality. He said that Pakistan would be made a sovereign and developed country which could hold talks with international community on equal basis.