Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that Punjab Educational Endowment Fund is the biggest educational scholarship programme of its kind in the world to support poor talented students.
He expressed these views while addressing a function regarding achievement of the target of distribution of educational scholarship of Rs 1 billion among deserving students by Punjab Educational Endowment Fund at Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Wednesday.
He said the destiny of the country can be changed if the rulers occupying Islamabad return the wealth they had robbed. Similarly, he said, load shedding can come to an end if the circular debt of Rs 400 billion was paid back.
He said the ‘IG of liars’ was engaged in a vilification campaign regarding writing off of the loans of banks on political basis. He said he would quit office if it was proved that he had got a loan or even mark-up written off.
Speaking on the occasion, the CM said Punjab government had taken up the challenge of education and training of youth through endowment fund and had put an end to begging and dependence.
He said there was a need to promote self-reliance for progress and development. He said the course of history could be changed through a strong resolve and determination and though it was a difficult task but not impossible.
He said Ali Baba and 40 Thieves could also be forced to flee if a firm commitment was made. He said “Billions of rupees of public money have been misappropriated in Pakistan still we complain that Pakistan is lagging even behind Bangladesh, pure medicines are not available to the patients nor we have funds for agriculture development”.
He said cities and villages of Pakistan were plunged in darkness and poor children with brilliant academic record had no future while a handful of elite have all resources at their disposal. He said due to a flawed system the rich were enjoying all perks and privileges while the poor are denied even a decent meal.
He said this unjust system had almost destroyed the country and it is time for self-reckoning and reformation. He said the forefathers of the country made historic sacrifices in 1947 for the establishment of an exploitation-free society where the rights of every citizen would be safeguarded.
He said that Pakistan was still facing drone attacks and time for self-reliance and reawakening had come. He said corruption and plunder would have to be rooted out and collective efforts would have to be made to get rid of the corruption of the last four years.
Special Assistant Zaeem Hussain Qadri, Vice Chairman Punjab Educational Endowment Fund Dr Amjad Saqib, Justice (r) Amir Raza, principals and professors of various colleges, recipients of educational scholarships from all over the country, intellectuals and educationists were present in large numbers at the function.
The CM also took notice of the dilapidated condition of the graves of the parents of Allama Iqbal.
Nobody supports poor students like we do, says Shahbaz
