Pakistan progressing despite difficulties: Zakia Shahnawaz

Lahore : Punjab Minister for Higher Education Begum Zakia Shahnawaz has said that Pakistan is making rapid progress despite all the difficulties and we must join hands to cope with enemies of our country.

She was addressing a seminar organized by Punjab University and Pakistan National Forum in connection of Independence Day celebrations at Al Raazi Hall here on Tuesday.

Former Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Riaz Ahmad Sheikh, former Chief Justice LHC Justice Mian Mahboob Ahmad, Minister Minority Affairs Punjab Khalil Tahir Sindhu, former Speaker National Assembly Syed Fakhar Imam, former Federal Minister S.M.Zafar, Lt Gen (r) Khawaja Rahat Latif, Prof Dr Khawaja Muhammad Zakria, Air Marshal (r) Khurshid Ahmad, Registrar Prof Dr Liaqat Ali, Advisor to VC Col (r) Ikramullah Khan, faculty members and a large number of students were present on the occasion.

Addressing the seminar, Zakiya Shahnawaz said young people were the future of Pakistan and the dreams of Pakistan’s prosperity would come true only when all the segments of society would work collectively for the development of the country.

Khalil Tahir Sandhu said that it was regrettable that the difference of opinion led to killings in our society. He said that minorities in the country stood with Pakistan and would make efforts for dignity of the country.

Justice (r) Riaz Sheikh said that Quaid-e-Azam believed in religious freedom. He said that people of the region at the time of announcement of Pakistan’s independence started moving towards Pakistan.

Justice (r) Mian Mahboob Ahmed said that the rights being enjoyed by minorities in Pakistan had never been awarded by any secular country to her citizens in minority. He said that we must follow the ideology of Quaid-e-Azam for country’s uplift.

SM Zafar said today’s Pakistan was not according to the ideology of Quaid-e-Azam because he took politics as a religious obligation while politics was being considered as business today. However, he said, today’s Pakistan was stronger than 1947’s Pakistan and it was the time to create rays of hope among the youth of the country.

Syed Fakhar Imam said that we did not run parliament in a true manner and when we were in the government, we did not speak truth.

Khawaja Muhammad Zakria said that Quaid-e-Azam wanted to establish justice in our society and provide equal opportunities to the minorities.

Khawaja Rahat Latif said that India did not want to resolve Kashmir issue. He said that all twenty points of national action plan must be implemented to control terrorism.

Col (r) Ikramullah Khan said that we had failed to make Pakistan a welfare state as desired by Quaid-e-Azam in 70 years. He said that we must strengthen ourselves internally to cope with the challenges being face by the country.

Later, PU Registrar Dr Liaqat Ali thanked the participants.