CM visits Gujranwala: 929 students get laptops, 5,712 get paid internships

CM stresses women’s empowerment, criticises ‘those who oppose reserved quota for women in assemblies’.

LAHORE:

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif distributed 929 laptops among college and university students in Gujranwala on Thursday.

As many as 5,712 candidates were given internship programme certificates under which they will be entitled to internships for Rs10,000 per month each.

He also inaugurated eight development projects.

He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government had spent Rs38 billion on development schemes in Gujranwala division alone.

He said that the distribution of 250,000 solar lamps among students at a cost of Rs4 billion would begin by the end of December. He also announced development projects, including the construction of a 1,100-bed hospital in the city, and vowed to distribute 500,000 more laptops among the students if the PML-N comes to power again.

Stressing the PML-N’s focus on women’s empowerment and liberation, the chief minister said that those who opposed reserved seats for women in the assemblies were against women’s empowerment.



In his address, the chief minister also focused on his party’s initiatives for the welfare of the youth, citing the internship programme, laptop scheme, the Punjab Endowment Fund, the Green Tractor Scheme, the Yellow Cab Scheme and the Punjab Youth Festival. PML-N MNAs, MPAs, ticket holders and potential candidates were also present.

MNAs Usman Ibrahim and Ghulam Dastgir Khan sat next to each other to show that they did not have any political differences as earlier rumoured.

The area was cordoned off by the police to avoid any untoward incident.

Seven years ago, hundred of religious parties activists had attacked a mini marathon organised by the then Punjab government led by PML-Q, as women were “running along with men”.

They had been armed with batons and petrol bombs and had burnt vehicles and a stage.

Police said strict security measures had been taken this time. They said keeping in mind that the city was home to several extremist groups, the event, where both men and women had gathered, had to be highly secured.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2012.