LAHORE – Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan is facing serious challenge of terrorism which has inflicted irreparable loss to the national economy.
He expressed these views while talking to a delegation of police officers, who had undergone anti-terrorism training in Turkey and called on him at Tent Office, Minar-e-Pakistan on Friday.
“Only a peaceful and secure society is guarantee of rapid progress and economic growth and with this view, the Punjab government has taken effective steps for maintenance of law and order,” Shahbaz Sharif said.
He said a separate Anti-Terrorism Department had been established for the elimination of terrorism. Latest training courses, with the collaboration of Turkish Police, were being conducted for the officers of Punjab Police to fight terrorism, he added.
The chief minister said that acquisition of latest technology was extremely necessary to root out the scourge of terrorism. He directed that only such police officers should be chosen for the training courses as were determined and have interest in getting latest training in the field of policing.
Shahbaz Sharif asked Col (r) Shuja Khanzada, Advisor Jehanzeb Burki and other police officers to visit Turkey and ascertain and review all aspects of anti-terrorism courses being arranged there. The chief minister said that after the visit of the delegation, possibility of introducing these anti-terrorism courses on the pattern of Turkey would be considered.
The delegation informed the chief minister about their training courses. IGP Habibur Rehman was also present during the meeting.
Meanwhile, Shahbaz Sharif urged the doctors to end strike and serve the ailing humanity for whom they were like messiah.
He was talking to a delegation of doctors at tent office, Minar-e-Pakistan, on Friday.
The chief minister said medicine is a sacred profession discharging duties wherein doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff play a highly praiseworthy role last year during the outbreak of dengue virus and their indefatigable efforts saved hundreds of precious lives.
Shahbaz Sharif said that in order to ensure best possible health-related facilities to the people, the government increased emoluments of the people, belonging to health sectors. However, the chief minister said, there should be a balance between rights and duties and, instead of going on strikes the doctors’ community should serve the ailing humanity.
Shahbaz Sharif said the Punjab government was spending billions of rupees for provision of free of cost medicines to the poor and this process would continue in the future. The chief minister said that the healthcare commission had been set up to streamline healthcare facilities, which would be utilised for the general public.
He called upon doctors to work for the ailing humanity in these dire conditions whole-heartedly, instead of resorting to unnecessary strikes.
As a result of massive loadshedding, the whole nation was undergoing a painful experience from Peshawar to Karachi, the chief minister added. He pointed out that the energy crisis had affected all sectors of life including health, education, agriculture and industry.
He said the mismanagement of the federal government and bungling of billions of rupees was being made in the electricity and gas sectors.
“Corruption and wrong policies of the federal government has affected the common men, who are now up in arms over the cruel loadshedding,” Shahbaz Sharif held.
He said that all federating units had to share each others’ joys and sorrow, however an unjust attitude was being shown to the Punjab regarding loadshedding. He said that if the federal rulers end their loot and plunder and provide funds for the payment of circular debt, the energy crisis could be resolved overnight.
Special Assistant Khawaja Salman Rafique, MPA Dr Asad Ashraf and Secretary Health Capt (r) Arif Nadeem were also present on the occasion.