Tall claims: Only Punjab following merit says Nawaz Sharif
Punjab govt launches internship programme for 10,000 students.
LAHORE:
Pakistan Muslim League-N President Nawaz Sharif on Monday said the Punjab was the only province where issues were being dealt with on merit and it was setting an example for the entire country.
Sharif was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Punjab Youth Internship Programme, part of the Shahbaz Sharif Youth Initiative Programme, at the National Hockey Stadium on Monday. He vowed to change the future of Pakistan and said there were many who were trying to set the youth in the wrong direction but the youth had refused to be lured.
“Actions speak louder than words”, he said while speaking about the Punjab government’s conviction to continue the youth welfare projects. He said while political rivals were opposing the laptop scheme, the Punjab government was working even harder to ensure its success. “We feel for you and your needs,” said Sharif to a crowd of close to 10,000 students and young individuals.
“I pray that such gatherings are recreated in all corners of the country, in Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber-Pakthunkhwa’, he said. The Punjab, he said, was the only province where issues were being dealt with on merit. “Today Punjab is setting an example for the entire country,” said Sharif. He said the provincial government and the chief minster must be congratulated for their education projects. He said all that the youth could see around them today was corruption, terrorism and poverty. “Corruption, the power crisis, sectarian hatred and terrorism are this government’s legacy?” said Sharif.
He laid the blame for the current economic crisis on the nationalisation policy formulated in the early 70s, which, he said, bore no fruit. “Industries and even banks were privatised. But what benefit did the country gain from that policy?” he said. “Pakistan’s industries have been destroyed over the past few decades by flawed policies,” he said. “But I have not lost hope,” Sharif said. “Together we will change the future of this country.”
Ceremony
The ceremony at the Hockey Stadium began two hours behind the schedule at around 3:30pm with the arrival of the chief guest. All roads leading to Gaddafi Stadium had been blocked by the traffic police at around 2:00pm, causing heavy traffic jams near Liberty Market and on Ferozepur road.
The stadium echoed with national songs. A guard of honour was presented to the students by the Punjab police. Twelve stalls were set up inside the stadium where the students selected for the internship programme could collect their documents. Two other stalls had been set up by the University of Education. Close to 10,000 internships were offered to students at the ceremony on Monday.
Students
Excited to finally receive a laptop, Hira Zahid said she was glad that evening students were also eligible for the laptops. A student of the Punjab University College of Information Technology, Zaidi, said 300 or so students from her college had made it to the event.
The ceremony also included students being handed over their internship programme selection files. Several students complained that they were still unaware of where exactly they would be working at during their internship. Sajid Hussain, a student of the National College of Business Administration and Economics, said he was informed two weeks back that he had been selected for the internship programme. “I am looking forward to the internship, but right now I have absolutely no idea where I will be working,” he said.
Another concern raised by the students was regarding the duration of the internship programme. Sarfaraz Ahmed Khan, who has Masters in special education from the Punjab University, said the internship should be longer than three months. “This is not going to end unemployment. After three months, we will all be back on the streets looking for jobs,” he said. Khan said the internship should last a year, which would provide the interns enough time to learn and train.
PU
Around 6,000 students from the Punjab University made their way to the event on over 20 buses.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, PU Public Relations Officer Khurram Shahzad said all 12,000 laptops had been received by the university and they would be distributed among students today (Tuesday). He said that on Monday evening, the university administration would complete the documentation of students who had provided affidavits, a requirement to get the laptop.
KEMU
Close to 100 students of the King Edward Medical University chanted slogans against the Punjab government, claiming that they deserved the laptops but were being deprived. Holding banners saying, “Where is 100% merit?” and “Merit or vote politics?”, the students chanted slogans in support of Imran Khan. After a brief verbal spat between them and CM’s Special Assistant Zaeem Qadri, the students dispersed.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2012.
Pakistan Muslim League-N President Nawaz Sharif on Monday said the Punjab was the only province where issues were being dealt with on merit and it was setting an example for the entire country.
Sharif was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Punjab Youth Internship Programme, part of the Shahbaz Sharif Youth Initiative Programme, at the National Hockey Stadium on Monday. He vowed to change the future of Pakistan and said there were many who were trying to set the youth in the wrong direction but the youth had refused to be lured.
“Actions speak louder than words”, he said while speaking about the Punjab government’s conviction to continue the youth welfare projects. He said while political rivals were opposing the laptop scheme, the Punjab government was working even harder to ensure its success. “We feel for you and your needs,” said Sharif to a crowd of close to 10,000 students and young individuals.
“I pray that such gatherings are recreated in all corners of the country, in Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber-Pakthunkhwa’, he said. The Punjab, he said, was the only province where issues were being dealt with on merit. “Today Punjab is setting an example for the entire country,” said Sharif. He said the provincial government and the chief minster must be congratulated for their education projects. He said all that the youth could see around them today was corruption, terrorism and poverty. “Corruption, the power crisis, sectarian hatred and terrorism are this government’s legacy?” said Sharif.
He laid the blame for the current economic crisis on the nationalisation policy formulated in the early 70s, which, he said, bore no fruit. “Industries and even banks were privatised. But what benefit did the country gain from that policy?” he said. “Pakistan’s industries have been destroyed over the past few decades by flawed policies,” he said. “But I have not lost hope,” Sharif said. “Together we will change the future of this country.”
Ceremony
The ceremony at the Hockey Stadium began two hours behind the schedule at around 3:30pm with the arrival of the chief guest. All roads leading to Gaddafi Stadium had been blocked by the traffic police at around 2:00pm, causing heavy traffic jams near Liberty Market and on Ferozepur road.
The stadium echoed with national songs. A guard of honour was presented to the students by the Punjab police. Twelve stalls were set up inside the stadium where the students selected for the internship programme could collect their documents. Two other stalls had been set up by the University of Education. Close to 10,000 internships were offered to students at the ceremony on Monday.
Students
Excited to finally receive a laptop, Hira Zahid said she was glad that evening students were also eligible for the laptops. A student of the Punjab University College of Information Technology, Zaidi, said 300 or so students from her college had made it to the event.
The ceremony also included students being handed over their internship programme selection files. Several students complained that they were still unaware of where exactly they would be working at during their internship. Sajid Hussain, a student of the National College of Business Administration and Economics, said he was informed two weeks back that he had been selected for the internship programme. “I am looking forward to the internship, but right now I have absolutely no idea where I will be working,” he said.
Another concern raised by the students was regarding the duration of the internship programme. Sarfaraz Ahmed Khan, who has Masters in special education from the Punjab University, said the internship should be longer than three months. “This is not going to end unemployment. After three months, we will all be back on the streets looking for jobs,” he said. Khan said the internship should last a year, which would provide the interns enough time to learn and train.
PU
Around 6,000 students from the Punjab University made their way to the event on over 20 buses.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, PU Public Relations Officer Khurram Shahzad said all 12,000 laptops had been received by the university and they would be distributed among students today (Tuesday). He said that on Monday evening, the university administration would complete the documentation of students who had provided affidavits, a requirement to get the laptop.
KEMU
Close to 100 students of the King Edward Medical University chanted slogans against the Punjab government, claiming that they deserved the laptops but were being deprived. Holding banners saying, “Where is 100% merit?” and “Merit or vote politics?”, the students chanted slogans in support of Imran Khan. After a brief verbal spat between them and CM’s Special Assistant Zaeem Qadri, the students dispersed.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2012.