Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that it has been 65 years since Pakistan came into being and even though the country had made tremendous progress, the list of failures is also very long. He said that Pakistan comprises of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir and 18 crore people living in it will have to make a collective effort to strengthen it.
He was addressing the flag-hoisting ceremony in connection with the Independence Day at Hazoori Bagh on Tuesday. Provincial ministers, assembly members, diplomats, senior officials of Punjab government and a large number of people representing different walks of life were present. The CM said that if the principles of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal are followed in letter and spirit, the darkness being faced by the country could be turned into light.
“There is a need to pledge today that the unjust system would be replaced by a just one and everyone will be given equal opportunity to progress,” he said, adding that the supremacy of justice needed to be ensured at all cost. He said nobody could dare threaten the country if it was being run with justice and fair play.
He said that millions of Muslims had migrated to the new country with the hope of getting rid of the hegemony of Hindus and having an opportunity to lead their lives in accordance with Islamic teachings. He said that the Muslims of the sub-continent took an active part in Pakistan Movement with the dreams of freedom. He said that it was matter of concern and a food for thought that the system has offered no support to Mohsin Ali who got first position in BA examination. He said that Mohsin Ali who lived in a single room with 11 other labourers achieved this miracle through his hard work and commitment. He said that there millions of children like Mohsin Ali in the country and if given opportunity they can take Pakistan to the apex of progress and glory.
The CM said that in order to make Pakistan an Islamic welfare state, terrorism, corruption, nepotism and other banes would have to be fixed.
He said it was unfortunate that Pakistan had turned into a beggar when it should have been from amongst the donors. The CM also inaugurated an e-library at the Government Postgraduate Girls Degree College Samanabad. The CM said that Dell would set up 26 e-libraries in Punjab while it will also impart training to a 100 male and female students in each district of the province. He said that training of students will also be arranged in Malaysia and Turkey. The CM also visited the mausoleum of Allama Iqbal and laid a floral wreath on it.