People have to do collective effort for the strengthened Pakistan:Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan comprises of Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa, Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir and the eighteen crore people of the country will have to make collective efforts for its strength and stability. He said that if the principles of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal are followed in letter and spirit, the darkness being faced by the country could be turned into light and brilliance.

He said that on the historic day of August 14, there is a need to pledge that the existing unjust system will be replaced by a system which ensures supremacy of justice and equal opportunities to everyone to move ahead. For this purpose, he said, every member of the society will have to play his due role and the greatest responsibility in this regard rests on politicians, elite, judiciary and bureaucracy as they have the power to change the course of history. He said that it is time to learn from the past mistakes and adopt the same thinking to make Pakistan an economic power that made it a nuclear power. He said that Pakistan could be made a tremendous power to which no enemy could dare cast an evil eye if the obsolete and unjust system is replaced with a system based on justice and fair play.

He expressed these views while addressing flag-hoisting ceremony in connection with the Independence Day at Hazoori Bagh, here today. Provincial Ministers, Assembly Members, diplomats, senior officials of Punjab government and a large number of people representing different walks of life were present. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the Muslims of the sub-continent rendered supreme sacrifices under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam for the achievement of an independent homeland. He said that millions of Muslims migrated to the new country with the hope of getting rid of the hegemony of Hindus and having an opportunity to lead their lives in accordance with the Islamic teachings.

He said that the Muslims of the sub-continent took an active part in Pakistan Movement with the dream of having such a country where justice would be available to all its citizens and they would be able to achieve a dignified status in the comity of nations through hard work. He said that it has been 65 years since Pakistan came into being and though it has made tremendous progress in some sectors, but the list of failures is also very long. He said that it is matter of concern and a food for thought that the system has offered no support to Mohsin Ali who got first position in BA examination.

He said that Mohsin Ali who lived in a single room with 11 other labourers achieved this miracle through his hard work and commitment. He said that the founding fathers of Pakistan had the same dream and for its materialization Poet-philosopher of the East awakened the nation from its deep slumber through his poetry. He said that there are millions of children like Mohsin Ali in the country and if given opportunity they can take Pakistan to the apex of progress and glory.