ISLAMABAD - State Information Minister, Marriyum Aurangzeb Thursday said under the leadership of the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, the country has been put on the path of sustained economic development and prosperity during the last four and a half years, by surmounting the challenges like terrorism and energy crisis.

Addressing the 10th Corporate Social Responsibility Summit held here under the auspices of National Forum for Environment and Health, she said during the last 30 to 35 years the armed forces of Pakistan, law enforcing agencies, police and people had rendered unparalleled sacrifices in the war against terrorism.

The minister said the corporate sector had made a sterling contribution in the social domain and it should also invest in films and sports to refurbish the positive image of the country. She said the government was taking all possible measures to facilitate the corporate sector and it should give implementable suggestions to the government and the parliament for 'targeted social responsibility.' Marriyum said the government was very much interested in supporting and extending cooperation to the corporate entities and individuals who were engaged in socio-economic development of the deprived sections of the society.

The minister said the government and all state institutions would continue to assist and facilitate the business and industrial concerns which were promoting the projects pertaining to socio-economic development.

She said the government was working with utmost sincerity and commitment for development of the country and prosperity of the masses for which it had taken a number of concrete steps.

The minister said that during the last four and a half years the government had created myriad of job opportunities in all national spheres with special focus on small enterprises.

She said the government had given comprehensive packages for every sector including agriculture, health and education and due to the steps and strategies unfurled by the government in consonance with the vision of the former prime minister the scourge of terrorism had been subdued to a great extent.

She said the law and order situation in the country had returned to normal which was amply testified by the visit of international sportsmen, holding of international conferences and the arrival of different delegations in Pakistan. In the end Marriyum Aurangzeb along with the Minister of State for Petroleum Jam Kamal also distributed awards among 52 companies and social organisations.