Strikes, sit-ins against country’s progress: PM Sharif

ISLAMABAD-

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Friday said the politics of strikes and sit-ins was against the progress of country and asked the political groups to let PML-N government complete its agenda of country’s development.

“Stop leg-pulling and let us work for five years. Let Pakistan move forward. Let Pakistan progress,” he said at the launch of the PM’s Laptop Scheme under the PM’s Youth Programme here at Convention Centre.

The Prime Minister said “some elements” who wanted to take to streets in the name of revolution, were on the agenda to push the country back to the era of darkness and misery.

On the contrary, he said the PML-N government was working on a ‘real revolution’ by making youth part of country’s development process.

“We are working with commitment and zeal for the development of the country. There is no question to create hurdles in our journey of national development,” he added.

The Prime Minister said the gathering of bright students here at the Convention Centre was the dream of his government. While on the roads, some sections of people were bent upon pushing the country back into the dark ages, he added.

He asked the youth to stand with those who wanted to take the country forward on the path of peace and prosperity, and not with those who wanted the nation to plunge into darkness. He said the people of Pakistan had voted PML-N into power as they believed that this party had the capability to deliver.

Nawaz Sharif said the PML-N was working with the determination to eliminate power load shedding, while work had been initiated on mega development projects like Lahore-Karachi Motorway and Pakistan-China trade corridor.

He said the government had launched the operation to eliminate terrorism and said he was working on a plan to bring legislation on banning illegal weapons across the country.

He said that his party lacked majority in the Senate and faced problems in passage of this new legislation on possession of illegal weapons. He hoped that the opposition parties too will realise the importance of such measures to overcome incidents of dacoity, extortion and kidnapping for ransom.

The Prime Minister said a “feel-good factor” had increased the stock Index, while new employment opportunities were being generated and all sectors were witnessing a positive change.

On the occasion, a contingent of the Punjab Police presented a guard of honour to the students.

The Prime Minister said the contingent was especially here to present salute to the ‘real VVIPs’ who were in fact the students of the country.

Under the Rs four billion Laptop Scheme, about 100,000 students across the country would be getting quality laptops per year for a period of five years.

The scheme is aimed at boosting the scope of research, quality education and improved access to information and communication technology among the graduate and post-graduate level students in the country.

He said he personally approved the design of the laptop that was prepared by Maryam Nawaz Sharif and also by the Finance Minister and others, and hoped that the students will utilise it prudently in the advancement of their studies.

Among other projects for youth, he said Rs1.2 billion had been allocated for the Fee Re-imbursement Scheme under which 40,000 students will be getting a refund of up to Rs 100,000 every year.

The Prime Minister referred to his promises made during his election campaign and said he remained committed to take the country forward.

He said the government would facilitate those who had education and skills by providing them enough resources to move forward in their lives and help their families by earning respectably.

He recalled the criticism against the loan scheme for the youth by certain quarters, and said that despite propaganda, the time had proved the success of the scheme.

He said currently only 12,000 had got the loans, while more funds were available for more loan-seekers. He said no government in the past had the courage to provide loans of up to Rs two million to each youth.

The Prime Minister said, while giving the laptops, no questions were asked to the students to which party they support.

“It does not matter if you have voted for me or not, I am still your prime minister and responsible to provide you all facilities,” he said.

Around 1,740 students were present at the Convention Centre to receive their laptops. The Prime Minister also distributed the laptops among the students hailing from all the provinces including FATA, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar said that the Prime Minister, soon after taking oath of his office, announced six schemes, of which five were for youth.

He mentioned the Fee Reimbursement Scheme, PM Youth Loan, and added Micro Finance for the youth will be launched in a few days.

He said the Ministry of Finance had already released the full amount of Rs four billion for the scheme.

He said the local manufacturing of the laptops will create new jobs and bring technical expertise to the country. He said with the launch of the 3G technology, the students will experience faster Internet speed and mentioned that the students would also get free EVO 3G dongles with their laptops.

He said purely merit and transparency were being ensured in all schemes in Pakistan and there was no political interference.

He said all youth schemes were to continue for five years.

In her address, Chairperson PM’s Youth Programme, Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the present democratic government had been effectively fulfilling the promises it made with the people.

She said the launch of the laptop scheme was part of these promises.

She said those students who come on merit, will be eligible to get a laptop and there would be no discrimination at all.

She said all good students will now be able to get all the required help in education and will not lag behind due to lack of resources.

She said similarly the Fee Re-imbursement Scheme was also getting a very positive response.

Chairman Higher Educational Commission Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said for the first time, the HEC had received its full budget and got Rs63 billion for various projects.

He said an inbuilt application in laptops would provide various academic productivity tools for the students including a Digital Library to access more than 6,000 research journals offered under National Digital Library Programme besides a lot of other online facilities to the students.