‘Pakistan has to win war of economy, education, health’

Punjab CM     distributes laptops among students at ITU

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan has to win the war in the fields of economy, industry, agriculture, education and health.

He also said Pakistan’s future was linked to information technology, science, research and innovation. He said a solid strategy had been adopted for the promotion of science and technology. The chief minister said Pakistan was a peaceful country and wanted purposeful solution to all its disputes, including Kashmir and water issues, with the neighbouring country. He said Germany and Japan were destroyed in the World War-II but they made progress and created name through hard work. He said that Berlin Wall was not collapsed through canons and bullets but due to economic progress, and East Germany and the West Germany became united.

The chief minister was speaking at the ceremony of laptop distribution, under Prime Minister’s National Programme, among the students at Information Technology University (ITU) here on Saturday.

ITU Vice-Chancellor Dr Umar Saif and senior officials of the university were also present.

Shahbaz Sharif said Pakistan’s future was bright in every sector. He said ITU was playing an important role in equipping the youth with modern education, adding that the Punjab government would provide all-out cooperation along with funding to the university. He said a vast piece of land of 184 acres, worth billions of rupees, on Barki Road had been given to ITU. Under Endowment Fund, he also announced provision of Rs 500 million more for the university through which deserving and talented students would get modern education.

The chief minister distributed laptops among talented girl and boy students of the university. He also congratulated ITU Vice-Chancellor Dr Umar Saif, faculty members and the entire team on running the affairs of ITU in a best manner. He asked Dr Umar Saif to carry out the work of construction of ITU speedily.

He said, “If we have to win the war in the field of economy, we will have to make Pakistan a strong economic force.” He said today voices were raised against the CPEC, which was a project of development of the country. He said that a hue and cry was being raised for stopping these projects. He said the country would make progress with the completion of CPEC projects, and hundreds of thousands of new job opportunities would be generated besides poverty and unemployment would be eliminated from the country.

Shahbaz Sharif said Pakistan Muslim League-N government had set a new example by saving Rs 80 billion in Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project. He said there was no tendering in government to government projects but on his request, Chinese government conducted tendering.

He said after that Rs. 80 billion were further reduced through dialogues with Chinese company giving lowest bid. He said it was better for High Court to mention it in its decision. He said, “However, we have respect for the decision of the court. We have filed an appeal in the Supreme Court and would respect its decision.”

Dr Umar Saif said the university had been set up in accordance with the vision of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and presently more than 700 girl and boy students were studying at ITU. He said that campus of the university would be shifted to new place till 2017.