PM Shehbaz stresses upon need for a grand dialogue & negotiations involving all stakeholders if we want to move forward Pakistan
LAHORE, June 05 (SABAH): Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has stressed upon the need for a grand dialogue and negotiations involving all the stakeholders if we want to move forward Pakistan, adding that there should be no compromise on education, health, industries, agriculture, information technology and other sectors of the economy, in which the country could make enormous progress. He said there is dire need of holding the national dialogue, adding that whatsoever government comes and goes and no one should touch these areas and country should continue to move forward. He said that no one should have permission to do politics on these matters.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the first phase of 600-bed Indus Hospital located in Lahore’s Jubilee Town on Sunday, PM Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan direly needs a grand dialogue, underscoring “we should think above ourselves and our personal likes and dislikes” and accord top priority to the progress and prosperity of the nation. “We will have to hold a grand dialogue with all stakeholders of the country if we have to lead Pakistan ahead,” the premier said.
He opined that there were certain sectors of the economy like IT and industrialization through which the country could move ahead. “Nations were not formed on the basis of the construction of magnificent buildings, but hard work, integrity and sacrifices coupled with the use of latest knowledge and technology always evolved them.”
Shehbaz Sharif said that the situation is difficult at present but soon it will improve and Pakistan will progress at a fast pace.
He said that we will have to think beyond personal interest for the country’s progress and development. He hailed the philanthropists who set up and run trust hospitals for the needy and ailing humanity. He said that sincere sentiments of good natured people who work for any government should not be given political color.
Shehbaz Sharif said that during our previous PML-N Government’ tenure, 480,000 deserving children benefited from Punjab Education Endowment Fund. Shehbaz Sharif assured Dr. Amjad Saqib head of the Akhuwat to restore all the welfare programs which were going on under his leadership in Punjab during the previous PML-N government tenure.
The Prime Minister said that the PML-N government had to raise petroleum prices with a heavy burden on heart, as petroleum prices got sky high world over. However a monthly subsidy worth two thousand rupees will be provided to millions of people belonging to the low income segments of society. He said that the former PTI Government did not raise petroleum prices in time.
He said that measures are being taken to decrease the duration of load shedding in the country. He said that load shedding more than two hours daily will not be allowed.
PM Shehbaz Sharif said that attending the inaugural of the Indus Hospital is a reason of delight for him. “People launching such projects for the poor are earning the blessings of this world and the hereafter,” he said.
Recalling the establishment and completion of the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) project with an investment of Rs20 billion in the previous government of PML-N, PM Shehbaz Sharif decried that the PKLI Chairman Dr. Saeed Akhtar was disrespected and pushed out of the hospital when the government changed.
He said that a world-class hospital for liver and kidney transplants with staff members and doctors who came to Pakistan from the US and Europe to serve the humanity in Pakistan fell prey to politics.
The prime minister went on to say that the welfare work by good people shouldn’t be politicised regardless of the government they are working with. “How long will a country running on loans survive?” he asked, regretting that Pakistan should have been in the forefront of the Islamic world in terms of progress and development.
Shehbaz Sharif said that unfortunately it was said that Bengalis were burden on Pakistan, adding that Bengalis were not burden but they were presented portraying as burden on Pakistan and it was said that we should get rid of them. Comparing Pakistan’s export volume with Bangladesh, the prime minister said its annual exports now touched $40 billion mark while Pakistan had an export value of$ 27-28 billion annually.
The prime minister referring to the global economic meltdown said that the government had increased the petroleum prices with a heavy heart.
About load-shedding, the prime minister said that he had chaired an emergency meeting and directed for a mechanism to decrease its duration. There should be no more than two hours of load-shedding, he added. He also hinted to announce further austerity measures shortly in the face of economic challenges.
PM Shehbaz Sharif further stated that he was ready to be held accountable for his two and half months rule but asked if the previous rulers who had governed the country in the last three and half years would do the same. He expressed the optimism that with unity and hard work, the country would rise to the horizon and no one would be able to match its speed.
Shehbaz Sharif said that he recently visited Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Turkey and he told the leadership of these countries that you are our great brothers and you have always helped us and when I came you might thought I came to seek help, I did not come to seek help but there is necessity so you should provide some more help as you have helped during the 75 years and I promise we will work hard and shed our sweat and will certainly stand on our own feet. He said that the nations are formed though planning and hard work.
Punjab Governor Engineer Mian Muhammad Balighur Rehman, Health Minister Engineer Khawaja Muhammad Salman Rafique and other notables were present on the occasion.
Meanwhile Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday has ordered to provide two helicopters “immediately” for extinguishing fire in Patnai area of Swat, following a request by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
The request was made in an attempt to prevent the fire from spreading – a risk that runs high due to dry weather and strong winds.
The premier is reported to have issued instructions to extinguish the fire at once after approving the request of the district administration and subsidiaries of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).
The district administration, forest department and rescue 1122 are putting out fires in Patnai Mingora area of Babuzai Tehsil.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has written a condolence letter to the bereaved family of late Constable Mudassar Iqbal who embraced martyrdom near Attock while performing duty during PTI’s long march.
City Police Officer Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi met with family members of the Shaheed Constable and handed over the condolence letter of Prime Minister to them.
The CPO laid floral wreath on the grave of martyred constable on behalf of the Prime Minister and also offered Fateha.
He assured the bereaved family that all out facilities, including education, will be provided to children of the martyred constable.