A delegation of National Management College calls on Shuja Khanzada

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Home Col. Retd Shuja Khanzada has said that Punjab government is paying full attention to economic development but the desired results cannot be achieved without peace in the society. He said that zero tolerance policy is being followed under national action plan against the banned organizations involved in sectarian and terrorist activities. He said it is first time in the history of the country that all political parties, army and concerned institutions are on one platform in the war against terrorism and positive results are being achieved.

He was talking to a delegation led by Dean National Management College Naeem Aslam comprising participants of the course in Darbar Hall at Civil Secretariat, today.

Chief Secretary Punjab Khizar Hayat Gondal, Additional Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary Energy, Secretary Schools Education, Special Secretary Home, Director Health Programme besides other senior officers were also present on the occasion.

The Minister said that under national action programme, army, rangers and law enforcement agencies are conducting operations against terrorists and their facilitators in the light of authentic information of ISI and MI which are proving very helpful in eradication of the menace of terrorism. He said that geotagging of 13794 seminaries have been completed under national action plan and all information about them is available on dashboard. He said that the writ of the government has been established by making amendment in the laws regarding terrorism, misuse of loudspeakers in mosques and objectionable posters, wall-chalking and other material.

He said that establishment of counter terrorism force due to the personal interest of Chief Minister is a big achievement and it is yielding encouraging results. He said that there is information about presence of terrorist elements and their facilitators in some religious seminaries, NGOs and institutions and action will be taken against them.

The Provincial Minister further said that finger index machines are being installed in all big cities of the province which will show record of the entire family through a thumb print. He said that no school, bazaar or worship places were safe before national action plan but now there is a lot of improvement in law and order.

Secretary Schools Education while apprised the delegation of the improvement in education system in the province informed that attendance rate of children in schools has increased from 79 percent to 93 percent, of teachers from 80 percent to 93 percent while that of supervisory staff from 57 percent to 96 percent. He said that 40 thousand vacancies of teachers have been filled under Parho Punjab, Barho Punjab of Chief Minister Punjab. Additional Chief Secretary Energy said that government is utilizing all available resources for power generation and loadshedding will be substantially decreased by 2018.

Chief Secretary Punjab Khizar Hayat Gondal while welcoming the participants of the course said that it is a big achievement to the part of this course. He said that such courses improve supervisory abilities of the participants as well as build their capacities to deal with other issues. He also informed about Daanish Schools, missing facilities of the schools and Punjab Endowment Fund.

Dean National Management College Naeem Aslam thanked Home Minister Col. Shuja Khanzada, Chief Secretary Punjab and other secretaries and said that Punjab is making rapid progress in energy, security, health and educational projects which is commendable. Later, head of the delegation and the Home Minister exchanged shields.