Shahbaz pins hopes on Turkey for energy

[Salman]

LAHORE : Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that the energy road show to be held in Istanbul on October 17 is an important development in the wake of his recent visit to Turkey and will go a long way in solving the energy crisis in Punjab.

He said conducting energy road show was a success of Punjab government and an acknowledgment of the fact that Turkish leadership gave importance to its friendship with the Punjab government. The CM stated this during a briefing on the energy road show for Punjab in Istanbul here on Monday.

Lauds women’s role: Shahbaz Sharif has said that no society can progress without active participation of women and it is a good omen that Pakistani women are playing a dynamic role in all sectors of life. He said the Punjab government was following a number of programmes aimed at welfare, uplift and wellbeing of women, adding that a comprehensive package had been announced for women empowerment to protect their social, economic and legal rights.

Shahbaz Sharif was talking to a delegation of various NGOs here on Monday. He called upon the NGOs to step forward to eradicate extremist tendencies from the society. He said the role of women in the society was significant as a large portion of the country’s population consisted of women; therefore, it was essential for women to play their dynamic role to ensure progress and prosperity of the country. The chief minister said that on the occasion of International Day for Women, the Punjab government had announced a historic development package for women, which was unprecedented in the country’s history. He said that under that package, a 15 percent quota had been earmarked for women in government service while 33 percent quota for women had been made mandatory for all other government institutions, committees and taskforces. He said the plots to be allotted by the Punjab government under Jinnah Abadi Scheme would also be jointly owned by husband and the wife.

The delegation included Hina Jillani, Neelam Husain, Humera Sheikh, Nasreen Shah, Tamkinat Karim and Nusrat Jamil. Position holders: On the invitation of the Punjab chief minister, position-holder female students in annual matriculation examination 2012 of all educational boards of Punjab reached the Punjab House Murree on Monday on a three-day study and recreational tour of Murree.

According to a handout issued here, a contingent of police presented guard of honor to the students at Punjab House, Murree. Advisor to the CM on Higher Education Syed Zaeem Hussain Qadri represented Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif. Assistant Commissioner Manzoor Ahmed Chandio, ASP Murree, representative officers of educational boards of Punjab, Protocol Officer Nadia Awan and Faisal Shakeel were also present. Position-holder students will be given protocol of the state guest during their three-day study and recreational tour of Murree and they would stay at Punjab House, Murree.