LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that drone attacks are killing innocent Muslims and proving counterproductive in the war on terror. He said the drone attacks should be condemned in the strongest terms and the whole nation would have to stand up against them. He was talking to the media after the 5th annual certificate distribution ceremony of the Rangers Institute of Technical Education (RITE) at the Pakistan Rangers Headquarters, here on Wednesday.
The CM said that the problems of terrorism and extremism being faced by the country were the outcome of wrong policies of Pervez Musharraf. Replying to a question about distribution of Watan Cards among the flood victims, he said that financial assistance of Rs.20,000 each had been provided to the flood victims in a highly transparent manner.
In response to a question about the report of the commission investigating into the breaking of spurs and dykes during the flood, he said that he himself had set up the commission and the cabinet committee was reviewing the report submitted by it.
Earlier, Shahbaz Sharif, while addressing the 5th annual certificate distribution ceremony of the Rangers Institute of Technical Education (RITE) at the Pakistan Rangers Headquarters, Punjab, stressed the need to evolve a new system on the pattern of Misaq-e-Madina to ensure equitable distribution of resources, bridge the divide between the rich and poor and root out extremism and terrorism
Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Director General Rangers Maj. Gen. Muhammad Nawaz, Secretary Industries Dr. Shujaat Ali, TEVTA chairman Saeed Alvi, high ranking officers, teachers and a large number of students were also present.
The chief minister said the promotion of education, science and technology and modern knowledge was essential to eliminate poverty, ignorance and extremism and to transform Pakistan into an Islamic welfare state, in accordance with the ideals of Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam.
He said that the Rangers Institute of Technical Education (RITE) was playing a commendable role in technical training of the youth and such programmes could be helpful in overcoming poverty and unemployment in the country. He said that the Punjab government would give a monthly stipend of Rs.2,000 each to boys and girls receiving training at the RITE, while funds would also be provided for the purchase of modern machinery for the institute in the light of the recommendations of the committee set up for the purpose.
Shahbaz Sharif said that terrorism and extremism were the most serious challenges being faced by the country and the sacrifices being rendered by the Army, police, law-enforcement agencies and the people were unprecedented, which was a proof of their commitment and determination to root out the menace.
He said that the Army, Rangers, politicians and all segments of the society had taken an active part in the relief activities for the flood victims. Model villages are being constructed in the flood-hit areas with the donations of Rs.1.5 billion deposited in the fund.
He said that Rangers, NGOs and philanthropists were constructing houses for the flood-victims and their efforts were appreciable. He said that the families of Army officers and Jawans, who had laid down their lives in the defence of the country, could also apply for houses under these schemes. He said that the Punjab government would make down payment of Rs.250,000 for the quota allocated for widows and martyrs.
Rangers Director General Maj. Gen. Muhammad Nawaz, in his welcome address, said 21 schools and collages had been established by Pakistan Rangers where quality education was being provided to boy and girl students.
