Punjab Chief Minister hopes sporting activities between the two countries can increase. PHOTO: INP/FILE
Shahbaz was speaking before the final match of the Kabaddi world cup between Pakistan and India at the Guru Nanak stadium in the Indian city of Ludhiana on Saturday evening.
Realising that his initial speech in Urdu was failing to captivate the largely Punjabi-speaking audience, Shahbaz switched to Punjabi to rapturous applause.
“Today is the world cup of Kabbaddi. The final match is between neighbouring countries. If India wins, it means Pakistan's neighbour has won and we will congratulate you. If Pakistan wins, your [India] neighbour wins, and you can congratulate us,” he said in Punjabi.
“This time you have invited me here, next time we will have the kabbadi world cup in Lahore and I will invite the [Indian] Punjab chief minister and all these people here to come and watch.”
Shahbaz expressed the hope that the people living in the two halves of Punjab can come together to solve mutually afflicting problems such as low education and together can work to take strides in the fields of trade, science and technology. “Some things I have learnt here and some things you can learn when you come to Lahore and together Pakistan Punjab and Indian Punjab can work together to solve problems like trade, education, health, unemployment.”
"We should sit together for resolving all the issues," he said, adding, "we should work for the promotion of trade and bilateral relations between Pakistan and India."
The Punjab Chief Minister said that he has brought a message and peace and hoped that there would be more bilateral sporting events including kabaddi, wrestling, hockey and cricket.
"We will also host wrestling, we have wrestlers (pehlwan) and you have great wrestlers too and we will see who wins.”
He hoped that beyond competing in sports, the neighbours would compete in the fields of science and education.
COMMENTS (52)
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@Terry: None. Empty just like whatever you say.
@Raj Kafir: Yes many Pakistani professionals who are unable to clear equivalency exams or do the required training drive taxis but so do many other Third World professionals in North America ; just remind yourself that there are more Indian cab drivers in all North American cities, many of whom were also professionals in India. Isn't it better to work than live on social assistance or state khayrat?
@Someone: You worry about Baluchistan
@Krix: The problem with you Indians is that you think the world is made around you. Wake up and get out of your little bubble. India has a prime opportunity to normalise relations, if it does not want to take the advantage, it is India which will lose more. India has already bleeded enough in Kashmir, and if it won't learn, Pakistan will make sure that it bleeds more.
@Saeed: Majority of the Pakistanis I have met cannot distinguish between UPPER cases and lower cases of English language. Kasam Khuda Ki Sach Keh Raha Hoon. Doctors and Engineers of Pakistani origin drive cabs in Calgary.
@Someone:
Additives are available in the market these days which make sour grapes taste sweet. Try them.
@Someone:
You are actually a "no one" I am not saying , the world says this. It's time u need some medical attention.
@Raj Kafir: A google on list of universities in Pakistan will for sure enlighten you. or try this again....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ListofuniversitiesinPakistan
If Shahbaz Sharif proposal is accepted, Pakistan will lift the next year's World Cup as India will not participate along with many other countries after what happened to the Sri Lankan cricket team who was promised fool-proof security as provided to the Pak President.
@Humza:
And now since he has visited delhi he ll be inspired to emulate the world class infrastructure of Delhi. That's good
@ Umar Khan Are you a language teacher somewhere?? Language is just a medium of exchange of words. The hosts are well aware about the sincerety of their guest.
@ET: Please banned Biased Indian readers commenting here.
Lots of similarity in Indian and Pakistani Punjab . Roads are blocked when chief ministers of both side of Punjab travel putting common man to great difficulty . Wastage and pilferage of public money on failed populist schemes. Employees in Indian punjab dont get salaries and Badals are hosting and wasting money on Kabaddi world cup . Now Pakistani punjab will waste money next year .
If Pakistan's Punjab CM can speak the same language and shows solidarity and sincerity raising the hopes of the Punjabi (in positive sense) on both side of the borders. Why cant' Pushtoons do the same thing.
CM of KPK should also arrange a Football or Cricket match to encourage people to people contact of Pushtoons across the Durand Line for betterment of youth and coming generations. There is no harm in following something which is good for the people.
Well done Shahbaz Sharif
A Peshawary
When Ghaffar Khan and Wali Khan talked about common language and culture of KPK and Afghanistan they were branded "Ghaddar". In Pakistan only a Punjabi CM has to write to seek better ties with a foreign country. He offered hospitality to people of Ludhiana If only he could offer the same hospitality to his countrymen in other provinces but that obviously that is not happening as the CM himself claimed that the strongest bond is language and he is only offering this hospitality to people who share his language not people who share his country.
@Ahmedabadi: Lalazoni?
@ Sophya A Khan One does not need any "script" to notice the achievements, if sees the happenings with open & unbiased eyes. The visible success of his tour de Punjab include: A. Coordination of Agricultural University Jalandhar with Agricultural University Faisalabad for enhancement in agri research & better seed varieties for both countries (Punjab is called bread basket in Pakistan as well as in India). B. Visit to Land Records Deptt to share his experience of implementing LRMIS (Land Records Management Information System) in Pakistani Punjab. C. Kabadddi Diplomacy, as rightly pointed out by @Jibran. Pakistan cannot afford more wars with its neighbors and the road to economic prosperity has to pass through peace & stability in the region. The report of TI is a testament to his earlier achievements. The visionary projects including Laptop Scheme, MetroBus and Solid waste management have been duly audited & cleared by the Transparency International. Not only that TI reported Government of Punjab as the best in Pakistan, it has also reported improvement in Pakistan's ranking by 12 places in global index! The real life is much more than the social media. Despite the fact that the Pakistani media had been hijacked (till a few months ago) by a radicalized party whose trolls started worship of their Lifetime Chairman and the party has proven itself to be Political Wing of TTP, still a very large segment of expatriate Pakistanis feel proud on the tireless efforts of PMLN moving in the right direction. PS: I hope you have no personal grudge against the leadership of PMLN.
I as a pakistani do not understand why in a PUNJABI sport the CM of PUNJAB is speaking in URDU. our language is PUNJABI not URDU. The urdu-ization of pakistan has been a disaster to PUNJAB
@Raj Kafir: After all that rant, what is your point. If you have any doubt just use google to find the number of unis and colleges in Pakistani Punjab. I have taught international students hailing from Indian Panjab, majority can not fill forms at the airport.
After reading comments of Indians here, I would not like to see them in Pakistan!
@Iram
Is wanting to be alive a crime?
why don't you hold a cricket match first? Try inviting anybody.
A Punjabi, CM of Punjab(Pakistan), delivering speech in Punjab(India), to a Punjabi audience, about the Punjabi sport Koddi.................. in Urdu!
Give peace a chance for our children's. I am speaking for all humanity.the pakistani Punjabi meets his counterpart so what ?? States deal for common benefits. Please don't become a radicalist or extremist. Rab rakha
@Muslim Leaguer: The comments of this dude are always nauseating. I mean if you have to do TCs of your daddies Nawaz and Shahbaz, at least be subtle. He reminds me of an episode of the TV show 50-50.
indian punjab is far more prosperous than pak punjab... in which world is this CM?
@Raj Kafir:
You Indian trolls have right to live in your fantasy world, but just in case you want to check the facts. Visit this link and you will know how many universities only Pakistan Punjab have.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ListofuniversitiesinPakistan
:
I think your chief minister wondered how india transformed into one of the leading economy in the world and how pakistan lagging.The way pakistan can move forward is to curb the fanatics.
Wonder why he chose Urdu initially? Did he think that Hindi/Urdu is spoken all over India? Wrong homework.
As the CM of a Panjab state, he should have started in Panjabi. or is he looking for a national role in Pakistani politics?
@quettawal: You obviously don't know how Shahbaz Sharif is the only Chief Minister of a province to personally take a great interest in helping uplift Baluchistan but no matter. He is the Chief Minister of Pakistani Punjab province which borders Indian Punjab. He has a role to play in uplifting his province which is already the best managed and run province in Pakistan. Why shouldn't he work towards greater understanding with Indian Punjab? Congratulations to the winners of the Kabaddi Cup. I look forward to seeing the Kabaddi Cup in Pakistan. Look at the cities of Pakistani Punjab with their development and relative prosperity. This is the result of Shahbaz Sharif's efforts compared to other CMs.
@Muslim Leaguer: please ask your scriptwriter about the "achievements" on this "successful" tour of CM saheb so that we can know what he did there...? Please don't tell he announced distributing laptops in Indian Punjab for their youth or yellow cab or scooty....
Gdp of punjab comes itself the whole economy of pakistan.
@Usman:
Well i didnt say he was best in the world. I just said he was best CM of Pakistan. Who else do you think is better than him?
Khattak, shah?
Great step by CM of Punjab. Lovely kabaddi going....
@ Spock Shahbaz Sharif is a role model for Administrators of South Asia. He is simply the best Chief Minister who has the ability to deliver. We have read so much about his mega projects including Laptop Scheme for bright students, IT Labs in schools, establishment of Daanish Schools, MetroBus and LRMIS etc. I wish all the CMs of India & Pakistan should follow his role model. Hashim-IIM
Indian punjab one of the most developed states in india....sharif should do some homework before speaking...!!!"
Shahbaz Sharif is a role model for Administrators of South Asia. He is simply the best Chief Minister who has the ability to deliver. We have read so much about his mega projects including Laptop Scheme for bright students, IT Labs in schools, establishment of Daanish Schools, MetroBus and LRMIS etc. I wish all the CMs of India & Pakistan should follow his role model. Hashim IIM Hyderabad
I would request to keep an eye on him..Many people come on India on visa and remain here till lifetime...........
great, Sharif sahib well said enjoying Punjabis hospitality, good reciprocation by badals
only if his government remains intact. . .
Low education in our Punjab??
Please!!
not worried abt the grievances of the people of Balochistan but is ready to reconcile with his Punjabi brothers across the border.....that's great.....great double standards.....
Probably the only sensible and ambitious CM in pakistan.
You ran there but they will think twice before coming to you. They will present hundred conditions before accepting your invitation.