Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that he will spare no effort to make sure every child goes to school adding that elimination of poverty, unemployment and ignorance and rooting out the system of nepotism, corruption, injustice and plunder is the priority of the government.
He said that every segment of the society will have to support him as collective efforts are needed for accomplishing the task. He said that in the light of Pakistan Resolution, the principles of hard work, honesty and commitment will have to be adopted.
Shehbaz Sharif said that an Islamic welfare state needs to be established in accordance with the vision of the founders of the country where equal opportunities are available to all its citizens without any discrimination of caste, colour and creed and where there is a rule of law and supremacy of justice and merit. He said that there is a need to learn from the past mistakes and move forward. He expressed these views while addressing an event on Pakistan Day, at Aiwan-e-Iqbal, here today.
Former president Justice (r.) Rafique Tarar, Justice (r.) Mehboob Ahmed, Provincial Ministers Rana Mashhood Ahmed, Begum Zakia Shahnawaz, members of the national and provincial assemblies, consul generals of America, Iran and China, workers of the Pakistan movement, foreign ambassadors, columnists, religious scholars, vice chancellors of universities, students and a large number of people from all walks of life were present on the occasion.
Shehbaz Sharif said that March 23 is a very important day in the history of Pakistan adding that people who gathered under the leadership of Quaid were united and determined and they took an active part in the struggle for a separate homeland. He said that our forefathers did not divide themselves on basis of sect and creed but today the nation is divided in sects and groups. He said that it is time to review how far Pakistani nation has been able to do justice to the struggle of Quaid-e-Azam and the supreme sacrifices of the martyrs of Pakistan Movement.
He said that history of the world is witness to the fact that no nation, which begged from others, has been able to progress, adding that the countries like China and America have achieved progress and prosperity through honesty, hard work and commitment.
Addressing the youth present on the occasion, the chief minister said that they are the future of Pakistan adding that a majority of Pakistan’s population comprises youth. He said the youth will have to play an active role in national progress and prosperity. The chief minister said that the present government has served the people selflessly during last seven and a half years and this journey of public services will continue in future.
Shehbaz Sharif said that he will quit politics, if corruption of even a single penny is proved against him.
While commenting on Bab-e-Pakistan project, the chief minister said that the project was planned under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif before the imposition of martial law on October 12, 1999. When the PML-N government came to power in 2008, it was revealed that Pervaiz Elahi government had planned to waste nine hundred million rupees of the hard earned money of the poor nation on import of costly marble from Italy for the project, he said.
The chief minister said that he could not see wastage of the funds of the poor people of the country and decided to stop the programme and stressed that marble available at local level should be used. He said he rejected the file of import of marble from Italy and announced that he will prefer to die than waste money of the poor nation.
Shehbaz Sharif said it was injustice that funds were wasted on import of expensive marble in a country where people were deprived of even basic necessities like electricity, potable water and healthcare.
