LAHORE (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif attended joint graduation ceremony of Punjab Riverine Police Force and National Integrated Counter Terrorism Course at National Counter Terrorism Centre, Pabbi, Kharian on Friday and awarded medals to the Jawans of Pak Army and police showing outstanding performance.
According to a handout, he also congratulated the Jawans of Punjab police as well as officers and Jawans of Pak Army over completion of the training.
Addressing the ceremony, the Chief Minister said that Punjab Riverine Police Force had been set up to combat anti-social and criminal elements in riverine areas.
He said the Punjab government made a request to Army Chief General Raheel Sharif in 2015 for the preparation of Punjab Riverine Police Force and it was a matter of pleasure that this request was accepted and the programme of training of Punjab Riverine Force was started.
He said that expert trainers of Pak Army had imparted training to Punjab Riverine Force in a professional manner and after witnessing the spirit and determination of National Integrated Counter Terrorism Force and Punjab Riverine Police Force he was sure that the day was not far when terrorists would be defeated and Pakistan would emerge as a haven of peace.
Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan would achieve that dignified status which was envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal and 20 crore people of the country would be able to lead a peaceful and prosperous life. He said that it was matter of pride that such a force had been prepared which could play an important role in rooting out anti-social and criminal elements.
The Chief Minister said that the whole nation was united in the war against terrorism and the officers and Jawans of Pak Army, Rangers, Police, politicians, civil officers as well as all segments of the society had rendered supreme sacrifices in this war.
He said that there was no other option than to win this war so that Pakistan could be made a peaceful and developed country. He said that the brave Army of Pakistan had written a new history of courage and valour and broken the back of the enemy through Operation Zarb-e-Azb.
He said that the whole world acknowledged the supreme sacrifices of Pak Army in this war.
He said that the success achieved in Operation Zarb-e-Azb was leaving a positive impact on the whole society. He said that civil and military leadership was on one page at the start of Operation Zarb-e-Azb and the government and armed forces were still determined to take this war to its logical end.
Shehbaz Sharif said that the brave sons of the country had rendered innumerable and unprecedented sacrifices in this successful operation. The Chief Minister thanked Army Chief Gen. Raheel Sharif, Lt. Gen. Umar Farooq Durrani, Lt. Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa and trainers for making excellent arrangements by Army and civil law-enforcement agencies for the training and said that the Jawans who had completed their training would perform their duties efficiently.
The Chief Minister also witnessed training exercises and appreciated the high standard of training. Corps Commander I Corps Mangla, Lt. Gen. Umar Farooq Durrani presented a souvenir to the Chief Minister.
Inspector General Training and Evaluation Lt. Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, Inspector General Police Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera, Secretary Home Azam Suleman, civil and military officers and the participants of training were present on the occasion.