It is time to take guidance from the Medina Pact and follow principles of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal to achieve self-reliance and regain the lost status of the country, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Sunday.
He was addressing the prize distribution ceremony of position-holders of speech and essay writing, sports and art and handcrafts competitions at provincial level at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. Shahbaz said that Pakistan is a country of 180 million people and there is a need for collective efforts to steer the country to the path of progress and prosperity.
He said that it was not the Pakistan for which a heroic struggle was waged by the Quaid-e-Azam, as it has been defaced during the last 63 years and economic and social disparities were rampant. The CM said that economic and political independence in the real sense could only be achieved by turning down foreign aid. Shahbaz said that it was high time that national resources were developed and the habit of begging from others was given up.
“We will continue to struggle for national progress and prosperity and survival of the country till our last breath”, he added. He said that a comprehensive picture of the situation in Pakistan drawn by students was reflective of the fact that the younger generation was fully aware of the state-of-affairs and keen to salvage the country out of crises. The CM said that he was happy that the youth were infused with passion and enthusiasm and the future of the Pakistan was bright.
He said that the younger generation was the guarantee of a glorious future for the country and it held the key to progress and development. Shahbaz said that the way the youth had pointed out the problems of the country was proof of the fact that they were deeply concerned over the existing situation and fully aware of their responsibilities, which augured well for the nation. The CM said that talent was a gift of God and it had been proved by the better standard of the speeches delivered by students of Danish Schools and far-flung areas than that of students of major cities and prestigious educational institutions.
He said that speech, essay writing, sports and art and craft competitions were being held in Punjab for the last three years to polish the talent of students but due to the recent floods, the prize money for position-holders had been reduced. Shahbaz said that the amount of cash prize will be increased to the previous level from next year. The CM said that out of the participants of essay writing, speech, sports and art and craft competitions, Mr and Miss Punjab and Mr and Miss Pakistan would also be selected from the next year and participants of the competitions would also be taken on a visit to Murree like academic position-holders.
He said that Pakistan was passing through a critical phase and after passage of 63 years, there was still a perception that real independence had not been achieved, as the nation was being subjected to dishonour and humiliation for a small amount of money. Shahbaz said that the Abbotabad operation had sent a wave of grief and indignation across the country over the violation of its aerial space. He questioned that how those people who took dollars from others dared to disobey their orders.
The CM said that there was a need for achieving self-reliance and making Pakistan an Islamic welfare state in accordance with principles of the Quaid-e-Azam. Shahbaz also awarded prizes to position-holders of essay writing, speech, sports and handcraft competitions.
