British High Commissioner Philip Barton calls on Punjab Chief Minister

Lahore: British High Commissioner Philip Barton called on Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, here today. Matters of mutual interest, bilateral relations and promotion of cooperation in various sectors were discussed in the meeting.

Talking to the British High Commissioner, the Chief Minister said that Pakistan highly values its relations with Britain. He said that there are strong friendly relations between the two countries. He appreciated British cooperation in education, health, skills development, law and order and other sectors. Stressing the need for improving trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Britain, the Chief Minister said that solid measures should be taken for this purpose. He said that various programmes in education, health and skills development sectors are being successfully implemented in Punjab with the cooperation of British Department for International Development (DFID). He said that education is of vital importance for curbing the trends of extremism and terrorism, therefore, Punjab government is paying special attention to the uplift of education sector and state-of-the-art Danish schools have been established in backward districts of the province. He said that quality education is being imparted on modern lines to the students in Daanish schools. He said that job opportunities have been provided to youth through imparting them various skills under Skills Development Programme and the scope of this programme is being expanded. He said that thousands of youth have been enabled to stand on their own feet through skills development. Similarly, he said, a programme is being successfully implemented in public health sector especially mother and childcare with the cooperation of DFID. He said that Punjab government wants to expand the scope of cooperation with Britain for the development of social sectors.

Referring to National Action Plan against terrorism, Shahbaz Sharif said that all political parties of the country have displayed exemplary unity and agreed on National Action Plan against terrorism. He said that steps taken under National Action Plan are yielding positive results. He said that the whole Pakistani nation has united to crush terrorists as terrorism is a big hurdle in the process of national development and prosperity. He said that terrorists displayed extreme brutality by killing innocent children in Peshawar and this tragic incident has been strongly condemned throughout the world. He said that this incident of brutality is unprecedented in the recent history. He said that every Pakistani is grieved over the martyrdom of innocent children in Peshawar. Shahbaz Sharif said that more than 50 thousand Pakistanis have sacrificed their lives in the war against terrorism and these include officers and Jawans of armed forces, police as well as common citizens. He said that the supreme sacrifices rendered by Pakistani nation in the war against terrorism are unprecedented. He said that the war against terrorism is aimed at survival of the future generations and Pakistani nation will win this war at any cost.

The Chief Minister said that terrorism will be rooted out and Pakistan will be made a haven of peace in the real sense. He said that terrorists will be eradicated from the country with the force of unity and those playing with the future of Pakistan will be brought to their logical end. He said that war against terrorism will continue till complete victory. He said that Pakistan is facing the challenge of terrorism and extremism and this menace will be eliminated with the force of unity.

British High Commissioner Philip Barton said that Britain attaches great importance to its relations with Pakistan and cooperation with Pakistan will continue in different sectors. He said that Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has taken practical measures for the progress and prosperity of the people of the province which is highly commendable. He said that Shahbaz Sharif is serving the people with commitment and determination.