State institutions emanate from Parliament : Ahsan

LAHORE, Feb 24 (APP):Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday stressed the need to ensure dignity
and respect of Parliament as it was the centre from where state institutions
ultimately take powers and owe their existence.
Talking to the media after addressing the 2nd All Punjab Workshop on
Young Peace Development Corps (YPDC) here at Lahore College for Women
University (LCWU), he said all politicians must get united on national issues
to tackle major challenges.
Today, he said, one of Pakistan’s neighbouring countries was threatening
to carry out surgical strikes for which all segments of society must get united
to confront the situation.
On the FATF grey list, Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan had already taken
several measures to curb the money-laundering and putting Pakistan on
the watch list would not affect its economic development.
He said the resolution in this regard had been moved by the US to
apparently pressurize Pakistan. Pakistan’s steps against money-laundering
were far better than many other countries, he added.
He said Pakistan, under the National Action Plan, had also taken a number
of measures against the menace of terrorism. He said sarcastically that “surgical
strikes” were somehow benefiting Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), adding
anti-PML-N initiatives had enhanced party’s popularity among masses.
Addressing the workshop, the interior minister said the youth were the future
of the country and empowering them was the responsibility of government, asserting
that familiarizing the youth with contemporary education and research was the need
of hour.
Unfortunately, he added, propaganda was being done against the country’s
development and integrity, while a perception of disappointment was being spread
among some of the youth, which was not fair.
He advised the youth to create self-confidence and keep themselves away
from all such matters, which could affect their future.
Ahsan Iqbal said the world was appreciating Pakistan’s economic development
during the last five years and national media should also highlight this development
and positive changes.
In 1947, Pakistan was not given its share of resources, but today Pakistan is
one of the 10 major countries, having digital technology and 3-G and 4-G technology
infrastructure, he added.
The minister said continuity of policies and political stability was a must to
achieve economic development goals, adding that in this way, Pakistan could
rectify and remove its faults of 70 years within the next 20 years.
Next 10 years, he added, were more important for Pakistani youth, as they
would have to play a lead role to develop the country.
“Today lack of knowledge is the main cause of Muslim’s downfall and we have
to improve our knowledge and strengthen our economy”, he said and added “for
which the youth and universities will have to play the role of Engine of Research
and Knowledge. We do not have to promote sit-ins and chaos but quality, invention
and an increased growth.”