Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressing the distribution ceremony of PM Laptop scheme at convention centre in Islamabad on June 20, 2014. PHOTO: PID
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday asked critics of his government for one thing: patience. “We allowed the previous government to complete its tenure,” he said, while inaugurating the Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme.
“Don’t indulge in leg-pulling. Let us work for five years to make this country a prosperous and progressive one,” he urged. Speaking at the Convention Centre Islamabad where 2,000 laptops were distributed among students in the first phase of the scheme, the PM did not name his critics. “One party is protesting, another is staging sit-ins and a third one wants to wrap up the democratic system,” he added.
The prime minister pointed out that while the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is committed to freeing the country from illegal weapons and ammunitions, his party is facing great opposition in the Upper House in passing through legislation for these efforts. “I am hopeful that other parties will realise the sensitivity of the matter and will cooperate with the government to create effective legislation,” he said. If the government is allowed to complete its tenure, it will overcome issues of terrorism, extortion and target killings, he promised. “All sorts of crimes including abduction for ransom, robbery, target killing and terrorism will end once the supply of illegal weapons in the country is curbed,” he argued.
He pointed out that the country’s stock exchange has been ranked among leading ones in the world and claimed investment in the country is on the rise. Even so, ‘certain TV channels’ persist in depicting a ‘gloomy picture of the country’, the PM said. “These people push the country towards darkness and lawlessness,” he said.
Discussing the scheme to distribute laptops among students, he said the government is dedicated to promoting programmes for the education and employment of the youth, who voted the PML-N into power. The laptops are given on merit and irrespective of party affiliation, he added. He promised to widen the scope of existing fee reimbursement schemes as well. Chairperson of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Maryam Nawaz said 40,000 students are being reimbursed their fees under the existing scheme.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2014.
COMMENTS (11)
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@Dominic: sallam bro
be practical no one can change the conditions in days. almost all realistic and pakistanis love their efforts. your economy is increasing, you are going to be best investor for world in 2015. first time you are returning the loans from international agencies. this government already started the program for electricity. after 17 years country is coming out from default position. the industry that shifted to bangladesh in last five year is coming back. what else you want. if you want more stats i will give you......
but dont blame if someone is doing good work.
Rubbish KSE is not a major index its a frontier MKT so cut it nawaz
Let the government complete its term and if they do a miserable job, vote them out. This is why western countries develop. The reason Muslim countries can never become stable is become no one understands the importance of a stable system - the governments in the West are probably just as bad but at least the public understands the importance of maintaining the system at all costs. Hopefully Pakistanis do too - otherwise Pakistan will become another Muslim state along the lines of Egypt, Libya, Iraq, Iran or Yemen. Jinnah wanted a consitutional democrac. People like Tahirul Qadri wants to overturn democracy while he himself says oath to the British Queen while living in Canada!
Always been a PML-n critic but I realize that this government is doing better than the last. All other parties are vying to have a go at the government when they themselves are not so capable. However the PM needs to make sure he curtails his extravagant lifestyle. Especially when half of this country is dying of poverty.
Mr.PM, we do not need laptops or your loans, but infact the nation needs Electricity, Gas, Water, Shelter, 2 times proper meals and jobs to support its families on top most priority, which you have failed to deliver during your 1st year tenure in your office as PM. Time is running out hence the nation cannot be patience nor wait for another 4 years for your Govt to run the show. Deliver now or face the consequences from the common man.
By the way, why every critic of N-League is considered to be a PTA worker? Can't rest of the nation criticize the government?
Well, No one should want transition at this time.The present government should be allowed to work peacefully for the further 4 years.It is also the duty of government to construct a big dam in one year to overcome a shortage of 4500 MW electric.Well, this should be done at priority for the temporary satisfaction of the People. The other departments should also ,now, wake up as competition in technologies is rising by fourth order ,and we are advancing in technologies just with first order.So, there should be target based studies at universities .
we have a war in our own country, living in a dangerous neighbourhood where modi and abdullah abdullah are head of states. shia sunni tension in iraq is at peak. iran and saudi can start proxy war in pakistan anytime. do we really want tahirul qadri as prime minister of pakistan at this stage?
I love it... I simply love that fact that the best team is working day and night for the benefits of millions. The problem with PTI is that they live in an hypothetical world where all is good and possible with click of a button. The 90 days troll was the cheapest act by those who claimed to be the best. Anyhow, work hard PML-N, haters gonna hate but 2/3 of the population trust you and stand by you.
Not a supporter of PML-N but in the interest of Pakistan let democracy continue and shortcomings could be removed in time. The challenges are so overwhelming no govt. without the support of all and sundry can overcome successfully. Let Qadri, Imran, Altaf, Shuja, Shaikh Rasheed work in the interest of the continuation of democracy and they can come into power in the next elections should the present dispensation fail to address the issues effectively. So far the PML_N govt. has not done too badly if the immensity of the crisis facing the nation are kept into view. If the opposition’s practice of taking law into its hands becomes well entrenched in the politics of Pakistan then tomorrow they shall reap what they are sowing today. And, the net result would harm Pakistan.
Mein zibah kartan hoon to tu chillata kiyun hai.