LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that collective efforts are required development and prosperity of the country.
He expressed these views while talking to a delegation of female students of Balochistan University of Engineering & Technology Khuzdar. He also gave laptops to two teachers and 40 students. On the demand of the students, he also announced constructing a school and sports complex in Khuzdar.
The chief minister said that Punjab government is ready to enhance the quota of the students of Balochistan in educational institutions and will take steps in this regards in consultation with Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Maalik.
The chief minister said that he will soon send his team to Balochistan for providing more facilities to the students of Balochistan in the educational institutions of Punjab. He said that present government is taking solid steps for the development of Balochistan.
Shahbaz Sharif said that dream of development cannot be materialised without promotion of education. He said that acquiring of modern knowledge is need of the hour, therefore, Punjab government has made promotion of education as its top priority and all units of the country have been included in its educational programmes.
He said that Punjab government has given its annual share of Rs 11 billion to Balochistan in NFC Award and given Rs 55 billion of its share to Balochistan during five years. The Chief Minister said that a cardiac hospital is being constructed in Quetta, for which two billion rupees have been allocated.
Shahbaz Sharif said that our elders have rendered sacrifices for Pakistan so that there should be justice, honesty, trust and equality. He said that Pakistan is an atomic power and enemies cannot cast an evil eye. He said that Pakistan is facing big challenges like terrorism, extremism and energy crisis and effective steps have been taken for coping with them.
The chief minister said that Pakistan army is highly professional and organized and is famous all over the world. The Chief Minister said that Pak army is fighting terrorists bravely. He said that political and military leaderships of the country is united for elimination of terrorism. He said that Pakistan is rich in resources and talented manpower but, it failed to achieve due development in 68 years.
Shahbaz Sharif said that a number of states that lagged behind us, today have surpassed us by miles. It is for the reason, loot and plunder has been rampant in the country and accountability was made a joke, he added. He said that required attention was not paid to the education and health sectors, and the democratic governments were overthrown midway.
This widened gulf between the poor and the rich. He said that Pakistan was not achieved to see safarish, coercion and corruption ruling the roost but for the purpose of that everyone would get equal facilities and share in development. The Chief Minister said that elite did not discharge its responsibilities during 68 years.
Still the country, can achieve its lost status through hard work, trust and honesty. He said that the time of slogans and speeches is over. He said that we have to march forward by learning lesson from the past and holding the accountability across the board. He said that judicious distribution of resources is essential for setting up a peaceful society.
Shahbaz Sharif said all political parties need to unite to realize the agenda of development and prosperity. He said that elimination of terrorism, completion of energy projects and socio-economic justice is such a national agenda, adoption of which is need of the hour. He said that all political parties of the country will have to march forward on a new national social contract.
He said national unity will have to be displayed for the protection of national interest and there should be no compromise on it. The Chief Minister expressed his belief that the dream of strong, stable, peaceful and developed Pakistan will certainly be materialized.
The Baloch students on the occasion thanked the chief minister for great affection given to them. They said that Shahbaz Sharif is serving the people in the real sense and they have practically witnessed the development journey in Punjab.