COAS chides peddlers of default narrative

Gen Munir says state bound to shield people from social media's negative influences

ISLAMABAD:

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir on Wednesday said the youth of the country was the biggest and most valuable capital that would not be allowed to waste under any circumstances.

Addressing the Youth Convention here, the Chief of Army Staff said that knowledge distinguished a person from others, whereas seeing the sparkle in the eyes of young people made one believe that the future of Pakistan was in safe hands.

The army chief said it was the responsibility of the state to keep the masses at bay from the malicious implications of social media-induced confusion and sedition.

A strong relationship between the people, the government and the army was the guarantee of Pakistan's security and development, he said, adding, "Those who were creating the narrative of Pakistan's default, where are they today?"

"If you want to know the importance of a free state, ask the people of Libya, Syria, Kashmir, and Gaza. As Muslims we are forbidden from despair," the COAS said.

The Chief of Army Staff told the youth that life was a test, and read the Qur'anic verse, "Do people think that they will be left alone for saying, 'We believe,' and they will not be tested?"

At the end of the speech, the Army Chief recited this poem of Allama Iqbal addressing the youth:

"The destiny of nations is in the hands of individuals

Every individual is the star of the destiny of the nation."

During the question period after the speech, the Chief of Army Staff explained the position of the Pakistan Army on various issues. In response to a question on the riots in Parachinar, the Army Chief said that the tribes should sit together and help end the land and sub-district disputes.

"The people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have stood like a leaden wall against terrorism along with the Pakistan Army for 22 years. I believe that Allah Almighty will grant us victory against terrorism," the Army Chief said.

 

Prime Minister

 

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that youth empowerment and the united efforts by the politicians and the national institutions were inevitable to put the country on the course to progress.

"If we resolve to change Pakistan, it will not be too far when the country will emerge as a great nation. Today's Pakistan and its prevailing circumstances necessitate politicians and national institutions to serve the country unitedly while observing their constitutional limits. If we do so, history will remember us forever otherwise the future generations will never forgive us," he said addressing the National Youth Convention held..

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stated that terrorism had been eradicated in Pakistan, but due to certain mistakes, it has resurfaced in recent years.

"Our national hero, Arshad Nadeem, has proven that no matter how challenging the circumstances, if the nation decides to confront its difficulties, success will follow," Shehbaz said.

He emphasised that the key to the country's progress lies in the hands of its youth and that the government is responsible for providing them with modern knowledge to spur development and prosperity.

He said it was the government's responsibility to equip the youth with modern education, technology and skills to enable them to change the country's fate and bring about a "revolution" of progress and prosperity.

He said the country's youth had immense potential as for the last three years, Pakistani students were among the top achievers of the foreign scholarships.

Calling the 1973 Constitution a binding force for the nation, he said Pakistani nation also showed unity when the country carried out the nuclear tests in 1998 to make its defence impregnable, setting aside the serious challenges.

He told the gathering that Pakistan had sacrificed thousands of lives in its fight against terrorism besides suffering an economic loss of $150 billion. Not just Pakistan, the whole world has benefited from the elimination of terrorism by Pakistan, he added.

He said that besides the common citizens, the security forces played their fullest role in purging the country of terrorism, which the nation would always remember.

Coming to the economic challenges, the prime minister said the government was compelled to privatize the PIA which once used to be a model for other airlines in the region. Similarly, South Korea copied Pakistan's five-year development plan and boosted its economy while Pakistan still lagged behind.

"We have to decide whether the business will go as usual or we will move forward," he remarked.

He assured that despite the challenges of electricity, revenue receipts and exports, the government would dole out maximum funds for youth empowerment and recalled the PML-government's pro-youth steps in the past including the merit-based distribution of laptops, establishment of Punjab Education Endowment Fund to distribute scholarships worth Rs22 billion, and numerous schemes for skill development.

Urging the youth to go into the SME sector, he said the State Bank of Pakistan has been asked to instruct the commercial banks to allocate 40% of their loans for the SME sector.

Coming to Bangladesh he referred to the demolition of Sheikh Mujeebur Rehman's statue during the recent political unrest and said the one who spearheaded an anti-Pakistan movement met his fate.

Prime Minister Shehbaz referred to the federal government's Rs50 billion relief package for electricity consumers using up to 200 units for a three-month period. He said the Punjab government has also announced a Rs 45 billion package to give Rs 14 per unit subsidy to the consumers using 200-500 units which should also be copied by other provinces, instead of politicking on the matter.

He concluded by calling on politicians and constitutional institutions to work together for the nation's service. "If I am serving Pakistan today, then I say without fear that the army chief and I are working as one, with a shared goal of advancing Pakistan."