Goal of development and prosperity of the country cannot be achieved without eliminating menace of extremism, said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif while addressing the inaugural ceremony of 2nd Lahore International Tourism Expo 2014 at the Expo Centre on Saturday. Delegations and diplomats from Turkey, Nepal, UK and other countries besides KPK, Balochistan and Azad Kashmir attended the function.
The chief minister also gave away souvenirs to the foreign delegations participating in the Tourism Expo.
Shahbaz Sharif said that holding of 2nd International Tourism Expo is a welcoming step and it will prove helpful in promotion of tourism. He said that there are worth-seeing tourism places in Punjab, KPK, Balochistan and Sindh. He stressed the need for taking concrete measures for promotion of tourism sector.
He said that Pakistan has a unique place for tourism all over the world and vast opportunities of tourism exist in the country. He said that tourist resorts will be developed in a better manner by providing best facilities so that maximum tourists could be attracted to visit Pakistan and to earn huge foreign exchange. The chief minister said that tourism is an important source for highlighting the soft image of Pakistan in the world. He said no doubt, Pakistan is facing extremism and neither this menace started suddenly nor controlled immediately. However, the government will overcome this scourge through collective wisdom and approach.
He said that the government has evolved a comprehensive policy in this regard and besides administrative measures, socio-economic steps are also being taken for eliminating extremism. Shahbaz Sharif said that the Pakistan Muslim League-N government is committed to defeat the menace of extremism.
He said that the government is taking vigorous steps for providing jobs to the youth. He said that a number of steps have been taken for promotion of tourism throughout Punjab including Lahore, however, there is a need to still do a lot for this purpose. The chief minister said that the delegations from European and neighbouring countries coming to Lahore and Punjab, were impressed by the facilities provided in the city and he believed that the participation of foreign delegations in this expo is a proof to the fact that Pakistan is a peaceful country. He thanked the foreign delegations and said that the government will welcome their proposals regarding promotion of tourism.
Shahbaz Sharif said that former rulers destroyed the beauty of recreational place like Murree and unfortunately, buildings were constructed without any planning.
PRICES TO BE CONTROLLED COME WHAT MAY:
Meanwhile, Shahbaz Sharif has said that provision of relief to the people and sale of quality essential items at reasonable rates is the responsibility of departments concerned. He said that no negligence will be tolerated in this regard. He said that the problem of the people is his problem.
The chief minister warned that the officials, who will not perform their duties efficiently, will have to quit the office and those working efficiently are his asset. He said that the cabinet committee will have to play its role very effectively for providing daily essential items at affordable rates to the people.
He was addressing the Punjab Price Control Committee on Saturday. The meeting which lasted three hours reviewed the prices of essential commodities in the province in detail. Provincial ministers, National and Punjab Assembly members, chief secretary, additional chief secretary, Planning and Development chairman, inspector general of police, secretaries of departments concerned and senior officials attended the meeting.
The chief minister said that the fruits of devaluation of dollar against Pak rupee and its positive impact on essential items must reach the people. He said that provision of fruits of devaluation of dollar against Pak rupee to the common man was the responsibility of the ministries concerned. The chief minister inquired why fruits of devaluation of dollar were not provided to the people. Receiving no positive reply by ministers and secretaries concerned, Shahbaz Sharif expressing his indignation said that ministers, secretaries and departments concerned should play their active and effective role.
He said that weekly index survey should be released in this regard and an authentic data should be collected and benefited for providing best services to the people. He said that services of professionals should be acquired for all this process so that confidence of the people could be restored and performance of government institutions improved. The chief minister directed that process of auction in vegetable markets should be monitored through the CCTV cameras. He said that the live coverage of process of auction in vegetable markets should be arranged through a local TV channel for the awareness of the people.
