Nation can overcome difficulties with 'hard work', says PM

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday stated that the nation could overcome “difficult times” with collective efforts, sacrifices and hard work. The premier said that all segments of society, including the elite, would have to come forward and support the nation. The premier was addressing a ceremony after laying the foundation stone of the Bab-e-Pakistan project and an upgrade to Walton Road. He said that at the historic site, he was reminded of millions of migrating Muslims from the sub-continent who had offered historic sacrifices and strived under the great leadership of Quaid-e-Azam for the creation of a separate homeland. PM @CMShehbaz attending ground breaking ceremony of projects in Lahore@PakPMO https://t.co/JBOlMG2jbo — Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) February 11, 2023 “On their way to the newly created homeland, they came across the worst kind of carnage, with thousands of children and women braving the onslaught”, he added. Referring to the Walton Road, the prime minister said it was the place where thousands of migrants from India took refuge and the locals supported them which renewed the precedent of Ansar-e-Madina. “The unique precedent would always be remembered”, he added. He observed that the Muslims migrated to a newly created country to get rid of the foreign rulers and with the desire to establish a society in which merit, justice and equality would prevail. Regarding Bab-e-Pakistan, the premier said Nawaz Sharif laid its foundation stone in 1991, and then in 1997 when the PML-N came to power work on the project was expedited. He regretted that the project hit snags in 2008 when its contract was awarded during the rule of the late military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf. The prime minister opined that it would be a shame for a poor country like Pakistan, where the basic necessities of life like health and education were scant, to use costly imported tiles for the construction of the historic monument. Read PM Shehbaz's APC on terrorism postponed again The PM stated that the Bab-e-Pakistan project was brutally ruined with billions of rupees going down the drain in the project. He highlighted that in 2008, there were reports that white granite worth Rs900 million would be installed to commemorate the project. “I asked the reason for it. The officer said the creation of Pakistan could not be highlighted without importing that granite. I informed him of our financial issues and that the nation had several projects to undertake”. The premier continued that he asked the official if Rs900 million should be spent on the monument, but the official had no answer. “I told him to follow my order and that this stone will not be imported. He turned and lodged my complaint with someone else,” he said, dubbing the contractor a “fraud” who was given the contract without bidding. The prime minister lamented that the project was still in “ruins” but that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had never looked into alleged corruption. PM Shehbaz prayed that no one, not even his enemies, goes to a NAB prison, adding that innocent people were sent to the penitentiary and justice was killed under the previous regimes. He maintained that billions were misappropriated under the project but NAB did not investigate. Shehbaz said that the accountability bureau selectively made baseless cases against innocent people and that the country could not progress without ending the “buffalo system”. Shehbaz stated that the double standard was leading the nation to the brink of destruction. However, the prime minister reminded the nation to not “lose hope”, adding that during the difficult time if the people endeavoured and if the affluent fulfilled their responsibility then the “ship would reach its destination”. “The only condition is that we work day and night”. PM Shehbaz urged caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi to support the project. He said that the delay in the project was 20-25 years long and that everyone involved in the project should play their role to complete it collectively.

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