Punjab govt to help set up Guru Nanak university in Nankana Sahab: CM

[Naveed Yaseen]

PUNJAB Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said the Punjab government will fully support the establishment of Guru Nanak University in Nankana Sahab and students of all religions will be given admission to the university.

The CM was speaking at an international seminar on philosophy of Baba Guru Nanak Ji’s Interfaith Harmony organized by Diyal Singh Research and Cultural Forum on Friday.

He welcomed all Sikh Pilgrims who had arrived in Lahore to attend the birthday celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He said Guru Nanak had his own special place in the religious history of the world. He said Guru Nanak’s father and grandfather belonged to Jati Umraa which was in Eastern Punjab and he visited his native village in 1964. He said he had special affiliations with Sikhs and he kept on meeting them time and again in various parts of the world.

He amused audience with some jokes associated with ‘Sardars’, saying Sikhs were peace-loving people and so were Muslims.

Evacuee Trust Board Committee Chairman Syed Asif Hashmi said Pakistani Muslims loved Sikhs. He lauded the efforts of Diyal Singh Research and Cultural Forum, saying this institution was playing its role very well. He requested the CM to order construction of a school and park in Chak 105 near Faisalabad which was the native village of Sardar Baghat Singh.

Renowned Columnist Shafqat Tanveer Mirza said Baba Guru Nanak was a pragmatic person and he believed in action. He said Muslims and Sikhs had many things in common and one of those important things was the language.

Sardar Manmohan Singh Khalsa said Sikhs had great love and affiliation with Lahore. He said Muslims and Sikhs both hated the caste system. He said Sikhs friendship with Pakistan was not because of India rather we had direct links with Muslims.

Sardar Swaran Singh said basic lesson of religion was love and true religion was the one which promoted worship of one God. He said Islam and Sikhism both disliked Hindus.

At the end, souvenirs were presented to Sikh leaders.

Speech, essay competition: The Chief Minister’s Speech and Essay Writing Competition 2009 will start from November 11.

The first phase of the competition will be held from November 11 to 14. Urdu essay writing competition at primary level on the topic of “Safai Nisf Imaan Hai”, middle level Urdu essay writing competition on the topic of “Mehnat Mein Azmat Hai” and middle level English essay writing competition on the topic of “Parents are the Best Teachers of a Child” would be held on November 11.

Urdu speech competition at primary level on “Subah Ki Sair” would be held on November 12 and middle level Urdu speech competition on the topic of “Amal Se Zindagi Banti Hey Janat Bhi Jahanam Bhi” will be held on November 13. Middle level English speech competition on the topic of “Students’ Problems” would be held on November 14.

transfers banned: Shahbaz Sharif has imposed ban on transfer/posting of teaching and non-teaching staff of the Punjab School Education Department.

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