Adam Thomson calls on CM Punjab

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Britain. He said cooperation in economic, trade, industrial and other sectors between Pakistan and Britain should be further augmented. He said we want trade not aid, while cooperation of British institutions for promotion of education in Punjab, besides other development sector is highly laudable. He said the British institution, DFID has produced positive results with regard to School Reforms Roadmap. He said promotion of education is top priority of Punjab government as provision of resources to education is not expenditure but a useful investment. He said, it is only through education that we can eradicate extremism and terrorism.

Chief Minister expressed these views while talking to British High Commissioner , who called on him at Model Town today. Various matters of mutual interest, bilateral ties and further enhancement of mutual cooperation came under detailed discussion.

Talking to the British High Commissioner, Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that in view of importance of education, Punjab government has made promotion of education its top priority. He said purposeful and meaningful education is being imparted to younger generation for rapid progress of the country. He said a concrete strategy has been adopted to spread education to every nook and corner of the province, for which Daanish schools, have been established to provide quality education to the children of less-privileged families, living in far- flung and remote areas of the province. He said Punjab government has strictly implemented merit policy, throughout the province, and no teacher has been recruited in violation of this policy. He said provision of modern technical education is being ensured to the youth to enable them earn their livelihood in a respectable manner. He said the younger generation is being encouraged through implementation of such revolutionary schemes as Daanish schools, Punjab Education Endowment Fund, Education Foundation voucher scheme, green tractors scheme, internship programme, laptop scheme, Ujala programme, and other massive development works. He said good governance, merit and transparency of Punjab government is being acknowledged even by international institutions and now India is copying development projects of Punjab as Uttar Pradesh government is providing laptops to the younger generation on the pattern of Punjab government. He said few years ago Pakistan used to copy India but, by the grace of God, Punjab government has established such high standards of development, during the last five years, that Indian provinces are following the programmes of Punjab government. He said the Indian Punjab has also sought our help in the sector of solid waste management. He said Punjab government has achieved unprecedented development in the 65 years history of the country, despite difficulties and extreme opposition by the federal government. He said soon general elections would be held in Pakistan, while these elections are not only important for change of government, but are also crucial for the very survival of the country. He hoped that people would select and vote for only honest, dedicated, determined and sincere leadership in forthcoming general elections, which is capable to understand and solve their problems. He said Pakistan Muslim League-N is sincerely endeavoring that an agreement on caretaker setup should be reached soon, and such names should be brought forward, as are unimpeachable and whole country agrees on them. He said PML-N has given very respectable names for centre and Punjab caretaker setup upon which the whole nation agrees. He said further consultation on caretaker setup is continuing in the party, however, it is essential that consensus be evolved regarding caretaker prime minister and chief ministers, so that they are fully capable of discharging duties of their high office with clean hands.

Talking on the occasion, the British High Commissioner Adam Thomson said Pakistan is an important country of the region and Britain attaches great importance to its relations with it, while cooperation in education and other sectors with Punjab would continue. He also appreciated steps taken by Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif for the uplift of education and development of other sectors in the province.