I am not going to America as ambassador: Najam Sethi

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister, Najam Sethi, has said that he is not going to America as ambassador nor has any such intention and he has already clarified this fact. He said that as Chief Minister he has discharged his responsibilities honestly and impartially. He said it is common knowledge that his name had been proposed by Pakistan Peoples Party to which Pakistan Muslim League-N agreed. He expressed the hope that the elected representatives will cope with the problem of load-shedding as it is number one item on their agenda.

He was talking to media men at the inauguration of the 2nd National Photographic Art Exhibition-2013 at Al-Hamra Hall today. Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Shahid Mahmood, Secretary Information, Amjad Husain, Chairman Board of Governors Lahore Arts Council, Ata ul Haq Qasmi, Executive Director Lahore Arts Council and a large number of photographers were present on the occasion.

Chief Minister Najam Sethi said that international observers and Election Commission have acknowledged that the most transparent, independent and peaceful elections have been held in Punjab province and the caretaker government of Punjab has made tireless efforts for this purpose. He said that caretaker government of the province provided a peaceful atmosphere to the voters so that they could exercise their right of franchise without any fear.

In response to a question, the Chief Minister said that only four provincial secretaries were retained on their posts so as to maintain continuity of policies. He said that these included Secretaries of Home, Finance, Health and Schools Education departments.

Earlier, addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 2nd National Photographic Art Exhibition, Najam Sethi said that photography is an excellent form of art but unfortunately, a step-motherly treatment has been meted out to this art in Pakistan. He said that there is a need to promote photographic art under government patronage. The Chief Minister said that a photographer infuses life into a picture but a highly developed professional skill is required for this purpose. He said that a picture captures a moment in history and tells the complete story. He said that there is a lot of talent in Pakistan in this field but it has not been promoted. He said that the caretaker government is now a guest but he wants to do something for photographic art.

Najam Sethi announced fifteen lakh rupees for Photographic Art Society of Pakistan and a grant of rupees ten lakh for the photographers whose pictures were declared the best. He said that the distribution of the sum of ten lakh rupees among the photographers will be made with the consultation of the committee comprising Provincial Minister for Tourism Salima Hashmi, Ata ul Haq Qasmi and Sami ur Rehman while the remaining amount will be spent on purchasing the pictures from photographers and presenting them as gift to visitors from abroad. He said that these pictures will be displayed at Chief Minister’s Secretariat and other offices.

The Chief Minister also announced prizes for the photographers whose photographs were placed in the exhibition. Later, the Chief Minister inaugurated the exhibition.