Public relations: Media has pivotal role in war on terrorism, says Shahbaz

CM says nation sees media as guardian of national interests.

LAHORE:

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Friday that a centre of excellence and a utility store would be established at the Journalists’ Colony.

He was speaking to a delegation of Lahore journalists. Sharif said the government had always tried to resolve the challenges confronting journalists. He ordered the constitution of a committee to assist them in overcoming challenges confronting them. The committee would include Education Minister Rana Mashhood, government spokesperson Zaeem Qadri and TV journalists Salman Ghani and Najam Wali. Sharif said media had a pivotal role in the war on terrorism.

He said the nation looked up to media as the guardian of national interests in the war on terrorism. He said the government had always prioritised the quick resolution of the community’s problems.



Sharif said the Peshawar carnage was unprecedented in the history of mankind. He said the unanimous approval of the national action plan constituted a watershed in the history of the nation. The chief minister said the war on terrorism was a war for the nation’s survival. He said the nation would emerge victorious in the war on terrorism.

Special Assistant Azm-ul-Haq, government spokesman Zaeem Qadri, Parliamentary Secretary Information Rana Muhammad Arshad, Secretary Information Momin Agha, Press Secretary to Chief Minister Shoaib bin Aziz and DGPR Athar Ali Khan were also present on the occasion.

CM reviews progress:

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the country was fighting an acute energy crisis. He was chairing a meeting organised to review progress on solar projects in Bahawalpur’s Quaid-i-Azam Solar Park. It was agreed to speed up work on 900 megawatt-solar projects. Water and Power Federal Minister Khwaja Asif was also present on the occasion.

Sharif said the energy crisis had taken a toll on the industrial, agriculture, education and health sectors. He said the government was taking every step to quickly overcome the crisis.

Minister Asif said efforts were being made to quickly complete the project.

Separately, a delegation of Pakistan Ittehad Council called on the chief minister. The delegation was led by central president Khalid Mehmood Khokhar. The delegation members praised Sharif for abolishing the export duty on potatoes. Khokhar thanked the chief minister for personally ensuring that the problems of the community were resolved.

Sharif said agriculture was the backbone of the national economy. He said the role of farmers was seminal in the sector. He said the government would continue to promote agriculture and take steps for the benefit of farmers. Sharif said the government would ensure that farmers’ interests were secure. He said a comprehensive strategy had been formulated for the development and promotion of the sector.

Agriculture Minister Farrukh Javed, former law minister Rana Sanaullah, and National Assembly Member (MNA) Chaudhry Iftikhar Nazir were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2014.