- Sharif says war no solution; good Indo-Pak ties necessary for progress, prosperity
Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday called for resolution of the outstanding issues between Pakistan and India through “purposeful dialogue”, observing that good relations were necessary for progress and prosperity of the two countries.
Talking to Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale here, the chief minister said that Pakistan and India should live like good neighbours since war was not the solution to any problem. During the meeting, matters of mutual interest and promotion of bilateral relations were discussed.
According to Sharif, poverty, hunger and unemployment were the common enemy of the peoples of the two countries and said this common enemy could be defeated through peace. He also stressed the need for maximum exchange of delegations between the two countries and strengthening of contacts at the public level for reducing the distances.
The chief minister said the two sides should divert their resources towards welfare and prosperity of the masses, adding that they could further the peace process in a constructive and positive manner.
The Indian envoy, on the occasion, acknowledged the fact that the leaderships of the two countries were taking steps for strengthening bilateral relations. He told Sharif that the metro train project in Delhi was also criticised, but it had facilitated a lot of people afterwards. He said that after the success of Delhi metro train, such projects had also been started in other cities of India.
Bambawale also appreciated the motorway and other public welfare projects launched by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government.
Meanwhile, CM Sharif, addressing a meeting through video-link at Civil Secretariat, said that setting up of Punjab Food Forensic and Drug Testing Agency was of vital importance for elimination of spurious and substandard medicines and draft law for this purpose should be prepared as early as possible.
The CM said that just as drug testing laboratory of Lahore had been modernised, labs of Food and Agriculture Departments would also be upgraded on modern lines. He said that the staff of these modern labs would be sent abroad for training. Sharif said that the Punjab Food Forensic and Drug Testing Agency would play a key role in controlling adulterated food, adding that this agency would play an important role in provision of quality medicines and healthy food to citizens.
Provincial ministers Bilal Yasin, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Steve Wood and Stafford of Britain’s LGC Lab, CM’s Advisor on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique, the chief secretary and officials concerned attended the meeting through video link.
