One nation: Unity, cooperation key to development, says Shahbaz

CM says Punjab has always extended support to Balochistan

LAHORE: “Pakistan’s development is linked to development of all four provinces,” Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Thursday.

“The need of the hour is for every Pakistani to work hard to bring good name to the country in the comity of the nations,” the chief minister told a delegation of students from the Government Degree College, Khuzdar, who called on him. The students are on a visit to the Punjab.

Sharif said the Punjab government had allocated a special quota in various educational programmes for students from Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. He said all federating units had been included in schemes such as the Punjab Endowment Fund, Daanish Schools, free laptops, study tours of talented students to foreign countries and distribution of cash prizes among position holders.

“This has promoted unity, brotherhood and inter-provincial harmony. It is the collective responsibility of all citizens to live as one nation and strive for the country’s progress,” he said. He said that it was time to learn from the past mistakes and think about the future.

The chief minister said that in order to achieve consensus on NFC Award in 2010, the Punjab government had given Rs11 billion from its annual share to Balochistan. The Punjab government has given Rs55 billion to Balochistan over five years, he said. “Khyber Pakhtunkhawa and Sindh have also benefited from the sacrifice,” he said.

Sharif said the Punjab government had provided funds for setting up a hospital for cardiac diseases in Quetta. He said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had laid the foundation stone of the western route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in Zhob. He said the CPEC projects would prove a milestone in national development. “The CPEC is an invaluable gift from China – a time-tested friend of Pakistan’s,” he said. Mega schemes related to energy, infrastructure and the industry are part of the initiative, he said.

Sharif said that the nation attached high expectations to its youth. “They should work hard, receive education and learn various skills in order to put the country on the path to progress.”

The chief minister said that all provinces in the country shared their joys and sorrows. “Pakistan is rich in natural resources and skilled workforce. Although both time and resources have been wasted, the nation can still make progress through hard work,” Sharif said.

The delegation praised the chief minister for launching various development projects in the province. They said the chief minister had taken revolutionary measures in the education sector.

Government’s spokesman Zaeem Hussain Qadri, Parliamentary Sectary Mehvish Sultana and Press Secretary to Chief Minister Shoaib bin Aziz were also present on the occasion.