Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday stressed on the need to promote religious harmony. Addressing a meeting held to review the security measures throughout the province on the occasion of Yaum-e-Shahdat Hazrat Ali (RA), he said that Pakistan was passing through a critical phase of its history and the enemies were hell-bent on damaging the country. He said people of all religious persuasions should shun their petty differences and unite to foil nefarious designs of the country’s enemies.
The CM said senior police officials should be present in the field to monitor security of the processions. Adviser to the CM Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa told the meeting that effective security arrangements had been made for maintaining peace on the occasion and provincial ministers would be present in their respective divisions on August 22. Chief Secretary Nasir Mehmood Khan said all the commissioners and district coordination officers in Punjab had been tasked to ensure safety of the participants of the religious processions. IGP Javed Iqbal gave a briefing to the meeting on security arrangements.
Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, Punjab Assembly Member Col (r) Shuja Khanzada, Punjab chief secretary, inspector general of police, capital city police officer and senior officers of departments concerned were present in the meeting. ADB country director calls on Shahabaz: Separately, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director Werner Lipach called on Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday at CM’s Secretariat and discussed matters regarding implementation of various projects in Punjab with the ADB’s cooperation. The CM was aided by the Planning & Development chairman and finance secretary in the meeting.
