ISLAMABAD – Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister and Pakistan MuslimLeague-N President, on Saturday while addressing over 60 diplomats from topcountries has said that Pakistan believed in a policy of peace and hasalways joined hands with the world community in peace efforts in the regionand across the world.
Addressing a meeting of diplomats from several countries here on Saturday,he said that peaceful relations with neighbouring countries is ourpriority, adding that Pakistan wants resolution of Kashmir disputeaccording to the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and the United Nationsresolutions.The Punjab Conference was participated by ambassadors, counsellors andsenior officers from economic institutions from more than 60 countries.
Shahbaz went on to say that Pakistan was playing role of a front line statein war against terror, adding that the success in war on terror waspossible due to the unity and cooperation of civil-military leadership.“The whole world is witness to our sacrifices and tremendous achievementsin eradicating this menace,” the PML-N president said and added today’sPakistan is a progressive, tolerant and peaceful country.He said: “After coming to power the incumbent government took many toughdecisions to overcome challenges confronting the nation.”
Shahbaz Sharif said that Pakistan is peace loving country and Pakistanipeople are wonderful, hard working and peace lovers. It needs leadershipwhich has the determination to serve the people and resolve their problems.
He said, “The Pakistani political leadership needs to have consensus on theeconomic roadmap. Political parties and governments come and go but theeconomic agenda of the nation should not be changed. If PML-N gets victoryin the 2018 elections and given chance to serve the people, then we willadvance the agenda of development and progress of the country.”He said the promotion of ties with neighbouring countries will be theimportant ingredient of our foreign policy and we will advance the agendaof strengthening the economy.
Shahbaz Sharif said addressing the ambassadors from all over world is anhonour for me. The objective of making this contact after being elected asthe President of PML-N is to tell the world about the performance of thepast and vision of the future.The PML-N chief said Pakistan had given sacrifices of more than 70,000lives which included officers and soldiers of Pak army and securityinstitutions and common Pakistani even children.
He said the government of PML-N has taken concrete measures to strengtheneconomy due to which economy was now strong enough and the GDP reached 5.8percent which is highest in the last 13 years. Similarly the ratio ofagriculture progress remained 3.8%. We are facing the challenges of deficitand we have to resolve it by promoting trade and not by taking loans.
He said investment of billions of rupees has been made in education andhealth sectors. He said the scholarship of 17 billion rupees have beengiven to brilliant students from needy families under Punjab EducationEndowment Fund. Thousands of girl and boy students have been able to getjobs after getting professional education and serving the nation asdoctors, engineers and adopting other professions and they are sharing theburden of their families and are a helping hand of the society.
He said they have promoted merit and 2 lakh teachers recruited on the merit.He said China made the investment of billions of rupees under CPEC in thepower projects. We are working on the vision to make Pakistan a moderate,consolidated and developing country. All citizens have same rights underthe constitution of Pakistan.Replying to a question he said he believes peace process is drasticallyneeded in Afghanistan. Peace in Pakistan is directly linked to peace andstability in Afghanistan. He said CPEC is the best example of economiccooperation in neighbouring countries. He said we are thankful to China forsupporting Pakistan.
He said South Asia should say goodbye to race for weapons for the brightfuture as a large population of South Asia is suffering from economicinstability due to arms race.Answering questions of ambassadors, Shahbaz Sharif said our foreign policywill be based on peace, development and economic cooperation so thatcountries of the region could benefit from resources.
He informed the envoys the youth has been provided interest free loans forself-employment. Under the Land Record Information Management System recordof lands has been computerized. This measure has benefited small farmers.
To another question, he said we need to speed up industrial development andend difference between imports and exports. We need to take developmentrate to 7 or 8 from 5.8 by focusing on industries of export items. Replyinga question of the Afghan ambassador, Shahbaz Sharif said both countrieshave similar religious and cultural ties and we have been hosting 40 lakhof Afghan refugees for decades.
To yet another question, he said Pakistan and India are atomic powers andboth countries should spend their resources for elimination of poverty,unemployment and illiteracy. He said unfortunately the people of Indianoccupied Kashmir were facing worst brutality and their blood is beingspilled. Time demands that the Kashmir issue should be resolved as perresolutions of UN.
Pakistan and India should sit together to resolve their matters throughtalks and international community should provide help in this regard.Ambassadors and high commissioners from more than 60 countries includingChina, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK, Canada, India, France, Germany, Indonesia,Iran, Italy, Japan, Korea and Malaysia attended the Punjab Conference.