Expatriates are ambassadors of Pakistan :Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the expatriates are not overseas Pakistanis but ambassadors of the country. He said that Punjab government has decided to set up Overseas Pakistani Commission at provincial level for immediate resolving the problems of overseas Pakistanis.

He was addressing First Pakistani Overseas Convention 2014 as chief guest at Chief Minister’s Office today. Governor Punjab Ch. Muhammad Sarwar presided over the function.

He said that expatriate Pakistanis earn huge foreign exchange by dint of hard work and no one will be allowed to usurp their hard earned money or property. The Chief Minister promised that the Commission being set up for overseas Pakistanis will be fully empowered and the committee comprising elected representatives will monitor all matters at district level.

The Chief Minister said that arrival of patriotic Pakistanis in Lahore in such a large number reflects their complete confidence in the government of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

He said that hundreds of overseas Pakistanis have come to Pakistan at a very short notice and their visit will prove very useful.  He said that Pakistan is facing a number of problems and challenges and we ourselves are responsible for this situation. He said that no serious effort was made by the former government for resolving energy crisis rather criminal negligence was committed and the nation is facing its consequences.

Shahbaz Sharif said that shortage of electricity has ruined economy, agriculture and industry while unemployment and poverty are rampant. He said that our forefathers had achieved Pakistan by rendering numerous sacrifices. He said that our forefathers had the dream that there will be honesty, hard work and merit in the country but this dream could not be materialized and coercion, rigging, qabza groups, safarish, nepotism, corruption and plundering are rampant. He said that at present “might is right” due to which our image has been totally tarnished in the world.

Shahbaz Sharif said that due to terrorism, our passport has lost its crdibility. He said that a thief is considered “chaudhry” in police station, safarish and bribe are given importance while merit and honesty have no importance. He said that patwaris grab properties of the people with the connivance of police. He said that the souls of martyrs who rendered sacrifices during Pakistan Movement must be very disturbed at present. He said that Pakistan had to be made such a country which was to lead Muslim Ummah from Casablanca to Kuala Lumpur rather than a beggar country.

 

He said that safarish, nepotism and corruption have destroyed merit in Pakistan. Now is the time to think and ponder, he added. Shahbaz Sharif said that the way Dr. Abdul Qadeer and his team made Pakistan an atomic power through continuous struggle, similarly, if the people, politicians, judges, generals, bureaucrats and all other segments of the country unite and make collective efforts, the destiny of the country will change. He said that if we want to change the country, we will have to change ourselves. He said that we have forgotten the teachings of Holy Prophet and the principles of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal. He said that we do nothing practical and only pay lip service.

The Chief Minister said that we have to work together for making Pakistan an Asian Tiger. He expressed the hope that despite difficulties and challenges, Pakistani nation will become a great nation. Referring to the criminal negligence committed towards Nandipur Power Project under the previous government, Shahbaz Sharif said that government led by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has restored the confidence of Chinese company. He said that the Chinese company was told that now Nawaz Sharif is in power in Pakistan, therefore, it should complete the project without any worry and this project is now being executed speedily and its first turbine will start production of 100 megawatt next month.

The Chief Minister said that due to corruption and greed of previous government, an additional amount of 27 billion rupees is being spent on this project which could have been utilized on provision of basic amenities to the masses. Shahbaz Sharif said that the list of the crimes committed by the former rulers is very long. He said that investment package of 32 billion dollars given by China is a gift for the people of Pakistan and this package also include energy projects of 20000 megawatt. He said that Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif will lay the foundation stone of 2400 megawatt coal power plants at Port Qasim and Sahiwal next month whereas work is also continuing on a solar park of 1000 megawatt in Punjab. He disclosed that energy projects of ten thousand megawatt will be started in Gadani.

The Chief Minister said that these projects will be completed with the cooperation of China. He said that China has extended unprecedented cooperation to Pakistan and PML-N government will eliminate darkness from the country. Shahbaz Sharif said that government officers and officials who serve the people are his pride while those showing negligence towards their responsibilities are his enemy. He said that people know well who looted them and who talks about their rights.

The Chief Minister said that land record computerization project will be completed during current year and World Bank has also appreciated this revolutionary project and provided 11 billion rupees for it. He said that government has launched Ashiana Housing Project for poor people. Shahbaz Sharif disclosed that Allah Almighty has saved him from cancer and He wants him to serve the masses.

Governor Punjab Ch. Muhammad Sarwar, Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Rana Mashhood Ahmed, Additional Chief Secretary, Chairman Planning & Development and representatives of Overseas Pakistanis also addressed the convention.