Shahbaz Sharif promise to eliminate poverty, unemployment and ignorance

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has promised to the nation on the historic Pakistan Day that he will spare no effort for the enrolment of every child in school, elimination of poverty, unemployment and ignorance as well as rooting out the system of Safarish, corruption, injustice and loot and plunder.

He said that every segment of the society will have to support him as collective efforts are needed for accomplishing this difficult task. He said that in the light of Pakistan Resolution, the principles of hard work, honesty and commitment will have to be adopted.

He expressed these views while addressing a function on Pakistan Day, at Aiwan-e-Iqbal, here today.

Former President Justice (Retd.) Rafique Tarar, Justice (Retd.) Mehboob Ahmed, Provincial Ministers Rana Mashhood Ahmed, Begum Zakia Shahnawaz, Members National and Provincial Assembly, Consuls General of America, Iran and China, workers of Pakistan Movement, foreign guests, ambassadors, intellectuals, columnists, religious scholars, vice chancellors of universities, boy and girl students and a large number of people from all walks of life were present on the occasion.

Shahbaz Sharif said that March 23 is a very important day in Pakistan history as on this day in 1940, Muslims from every corner of the subcontinent gathered at Minto Park and within a short period of seven years a separate country was achieved for the Muslims under the charismatic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

He said that the people who gathered under the leadership of Quaid were united and determined and they took an active part in the struggle for the achievement of a noble cause. He said that these people were above narrow considerations of sect and creed and waged a struggle for a separate homeland but today the nation is divided in sects and groups.

Shahbaz Sharif said that such an Islamic welfare state is to be established in accordance with the vision of the founders of the country where equal opportunities are available to all its citizens without any discrimination of caste, colour and creed while there is a rule of law and supremacy of justice and merit. He said that there is a need to learn from the past mistakes and move forward. He said though it is a challenging task but can be accomplished through reviving the spirit of Pakistan Resolution and the struggle for independence.

He said that it is time to review how far Pakistani nation has been able to do justice to the struggle of Quaid-e-Azam and the supreme sacrifices of the martyrs of Pakistan Movement and where the Pakistani nation is standing today and why other nations which were lagging behind, have moved far ahead. He said that though Pakistan has become a nuclear power under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and its defense is invincible but is has not been able to become a strong economic force.

He said history of the world is witness to the fact that no nation, which begged from others, has been able to progress and prosper. He said that China, Europe, America and other Islamic countries have achieved progress and prosperity only through honesty, hard work and commitment.

The Chief Minister said on the historic day of March 23, it is his promise to the nation that economic and social justice will be ensured, poverty and unemployment besides system of loot and plunder will be eliminated while expectation of the people will be fulfilled. Addressing the youth present in the function, the Chief Minister said that they are guarantee to a bright future of Pakistan. He said that a majority of Pakistan’s population comprises youth and they are hope of the nation.

He said that youth are a precious asset of Pakistan and they will have to play an active role in national progress and prosperity. He said that he will spare no effort for the empowerment of youth. He said that present government has served the people selflessly during last seven and a half years and this journey of public services will continue in future as well.

Shahbaz Sharif said that he will quit politics if corruption of even a single penny is proved against him in any of his tenures, Referring to Bab-e-Pakistan project, the Chief Minister said that planning for this project was made under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif before the imposition of martial law on October 12, 1999. He said when PML-N government again came to power in 2008, it was revealed that Pervaiz Elahi government during the tenure of dictatorship of Musharraf, had planned to waste 90 crore rupees of the hard earned money of the poor nation on import of costly marble from Italy for the project.

He said that as he could not see wastage of the funds of poor people therefore, he decided to stop this programme and stressed that marble available at local level should be used instead of its import from Italy. He said he put a cross on the file of import of marble from Italy and announced that he will prefer to die than waste 90 crore rupees  of the poor nation.

Shahbaz Sharif said it was injustice that funds were wasted on import of expensive marble in such a country the people of which were deprived of even basic necessities like electricity, potable water and healthcare. He said that during the period of dictatorship, contract was awarded for the project without tendering and 50 crore rupees of the nation were misappropriated. He said that he could not tolerate this as it tantamount to injustice to the martyrs of Pakistan Movement.

The Chief Minister said that the present government has promoted corruption free culture in the province and all projects are being completed in a transparent manner.

He said that Pakistan is facing energy crisis but China has extended support to it at this difficult time and given an investment package of 46 billion dollars out of which 36 billion dollars will be spent on energy projects. He said that it will eliminate load shedding from the country while agriculture and industrial sector will progress and Pakistan will be able to achieve progress and prosperity.

Shahbaz Sharif said that the golden principle of hard work, honesty and dedication will be adopted for moving forward and such a Pakistan will be created in accordance with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam where there is supremacy of law and justice and equal rights are available to all citizens without any discrimination.

Senior journalist, columnist and intellectual Mujeeb ur Rehman Shami while addressing the function said that representatives and workers of Pakistan Movement gathered from all corners of India on March 23, 1940 and pledged to form a state comprising Muslim majority areas.

He said that holding of a function to acknowledge the services of workers of Pakistan Movement is a good decision of Punjab government. He said that no one could doubt Shehbaz Sharif’s honesty as he is a straightforward person and such a leadership is essential for progress of the country.

He said that Punjab has made tremendous progress under the leadership of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the people coming from other countries are amazed at the change in the province. He said that projects of buses and trains are as important as schools and hospitals.

At the end of the ceremony, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif awarded gold medals to workers of Pakistan Movement. Former President Justice (Retd.) Rafique Tarar and Justice (Retd.) Mehboob Ahmed gave a shield to Chief Minister Punjab on behalf of the workers of Pakistan Movement.