Government is making all-out efforts to end the energy crisis:Senator Pervaiz Rashid

Lahore: Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage, Senator Pervaiz Rashid Monday said Pakistan was progressing as per vision of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah where every citizen had equal rights without any discrimination.

“The government and state treat every Pakistani equally without any discrimination of gender, faith, caste and creed,” he said while talking to journalists after inaugurating a photo exhibition held in connection with the Pakistan Day, falling on March 23.

The exhibition was organized by Directorate of Electronic Media and Publications of Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage in collaboration with Nazariya Pakistan Council here at the Aiwan-e-Quaid, Fatima Jinnah Park.

Photographs of male and female leaders of Pakistan Movement, their pictorial struggle, pictures of the country’s beautiful landscapes and historical places were put on display at the four-day exhibition.

Pervaiz Rashid said the exhibition would be a catalyst for the younger generation, especially students and an opportunity to know about founders of Pakistan, who played an important role in creation of Pakistan.

“Pictures of the Pakistan Movement leaders themselves speak about their sincerity and struggle for the cause of achieving the motherland,” he said.

He said the leaders wanted to see Pakistan united and progressing besides giving every citizen his all due rights.

Unfortunately, the minister said, some elements attempted to create negative image of Pakistan by carrying out subversive activities to stop the national progress and render it insecure.

But, the minister said, the Armed Forces had effectively tackled the menace of terrorism by rendering great sacrifices to purge the country of anti-state elements.

“Today the negative landscape has changed and there is a peaceful co-existence and unity in the country,” he added.

Besides, Pervaiz Rashid said the government was making all-out efforts to end the energy crisis and expressed the confidence that it would be overcome in the coming days.

The minister said international community was acknowledging Pakistan’s role and importance in world affairs, and extending cooperation to it.

He said Pakistan wanted better relations with all neighbouring countries for development and prosperity of the South Asian region.

Highlighting important role of females in the Pakistan Movement, Pervaiz Rashid said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had introduced effective legislation to protect and promote rights of women in the country.

Elaborating, he said, in the legislation female job quota in government departments had been increased. Besides, measures had been taken to protect women from all kind of violence and end gender parity, he added.

He said women were bringing laurels for Pakistan by excelling in different fields like sports, arts and science.

Pervaiz Rashid urged the public, political leaders and all institutions to renew their pledge to make Pakistan an exemplary Islamic welfare and democratic state.