Pakistan needs the leadership for progress:Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore:Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the nations make progress with visionary leadership and continuous struggle, and, Pakistan needs the same leadership today who can put the country on the road to progress. He said that if we did not mend our ways, no one would come to our rescue. He said that we have to march forward by relying on our own resources instead of depending upon the aid of Aghiyar and by the dint of hard work and honesty, will have to transform the country, achieved as a result of innumerable sacrifices, into Quaid and Iqbal’s Pakistan.

He expressed these views during meeting with young entrepreneurs, here today. Vice Chairman Punjab Investment Board, Muftah Ismail, Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board, Dr. Omar Saif and Secretary Information, Mohiyuddin Ahmad Wani were also present on the occasion. Talking to the delegation, the Chief Minister said that Pakistan is passing through a critical phase and is facing serious problems terrorism, energy, poverty and unemployment. He said that the gulf between the poor and the rich had increased during the tenure of civil and military governments in last 64 years. He said that corruption has been present to some extent during the tenure of all governments but the corruption during the last four years is unprecedented. He said that the rulers of Islamabad have no concern with the welfare of the country and the nation and they are engaged only in filling their pockets. He said that due to this thinking of greed and plunder of the federal rulers and criminal negligence in energy crisis, the country is plunged into darkness. He said that electricity loadshedding has made the life of the people miserable and lakhs of people are becoming jobless due to closure of industries. He said that terrorism has shaked the foundations of the country and it cannot make progress without elimination of menace of terrorism and maintenance of peace. He said that terrorism cannot only be coped with the force of bullet but by promoting educational, economic and social activities. That is why Punjab government has adopted a solid strategy for the promotion of trade, industrial and economic activities and equipping the young generation with the latest knowledge, he added. He said that the male and female students from Attok to Rahim Yar Khan are getting awareness about the changing situation and new inventions at international level due to setting up of IT labs in more than four thousand schools of the province at a cost of five billion rupees. He said that distribution of laptops among the talented students of the province on the merit is a revolutionary step of Punjab government. Shahbaz Sharif said that this step will help in eliminating extremism due to the agenda of promotion of economic activities in the province and equipping the new generation with education. He said that Turkey and South Korea have been facing problems like Pakistan. He said that Japan and Germany were ruined after Second World War but due to hard-work these nations restored their lost status and achieved the destinations of development rapidly. He said that China has become the second big economic power of the world today. He said that China is a sincere friend of Pakistan but trade of Pakistan with China as compared to India is negligible. It is need of the hour that trade with China should be enhanced, he added.

Replying to a question of youth, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that federal government did not pay any attention to the energy generating projects through coal, baggase and other cheaper means. That is why, Pakistan is facing serious crises of energy which is causing irreparable loss to the national economy, he added. The Chief Minister said that billions of dollars are being spent on the import of oil and country’s exports are being decreased. He said that the circular debt has reached to 500 billion rupees. He said that if half of circular debt be paid, the energy crises can be ended overnight. Replying to a question Shahbaz Sharif said that Pakistan and India have fought three wars due to which problems of peoples of both the countries have increased. He said that Pakistan and India will have to live like peaceful neighbourers and will have to spend their resources on the welfare of the people instead of on wars. He said that both the countries will have to resolve all problems including Kashmir and water through dialogue for the lasting peace in the region. Replying to another question the Chief Minister said that the future of Pakistan is linked with information technology and Punjab government has taken solid steps for promotion of IT in the province. He said that setting up of E-government and IT technology has been promoted in various government departments. He said that a campus of Technology University has also been set up in the Arfa Karim Software Technology. He said that a seminar of investors will be organized in the provincial metropolis this month and a comprehensive plan will be evolved for promotion of investment with their consultation.