Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the media has played a very positive role in strengthening democracy in the country, and she was confident that it would continue to traverse the same course to highlight the positive image of progressive and prosperous Pakistan.

The state minister for information, broadcasting and national heritage was talking to the representatives of the media at the gold medal awarding ceremony at the Pakistan Ideology Council on Monday. Addressing the ceremony, Marriyum said that Pakistan had almost completed 70 years of its independence, and it was imperative for the younger generation to know about the struggle of those who rendered sacrifices and spilled their blood for Pakistan during those years. “The youth consists of 62 percent of the population of the country, and if they remain unaware of the sacrifices of their ancestors, they will not be able to serve their country in a better way.”

The minister informed the audience that PTV and Radio Pakistan would present programmes on the events and journey towards the achievement of Pakistan between March 18, 1940 and 1947 as well as the sacrifices rendered for the cause of Pakistan.

She said that the move was aimed at creating awareness among the younger generation about the freedom struggle. “During these telecasts and broadcasts, befitting tribute will be paid to the business community, sportsmen, artists and those who offered sacrifices for the motherland and played a role in highlighting the identity of Pakistan.”

The minister told the media that the people were witnessing the emergence of a terror-free, progressing, healthy, educated and rising Pakistan under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and those taking umbrage at these developments only for the sake of it would have to eat dust.

The process of development and prosperity unleashed in the country would continue unhindered, as it was indispensable for fulfilling the objectives of the creation of Pakistan and realisation of the vision of its founding father.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had set a new and rare tradition of serving the masses during the last three and a half years, and serving the people was his top priority. “The prime minister is striving hard to change the fate of the people at all levels. He has been visiting different parts of the country during the last three and a half years and now he will go to the areas and provinces, which he could not cover earlier, to monitor the implementation of the projects for the welfare of the people,” she added.

She said that history was witness to the fact that during the last 40 to 50 years, no such efforts had been made. She said that time had come to guide the people and to channelise their thinking towards a positive direction.

She said that the country was confronted with a formidable challenge from terrorists, and during 2013 the terrorists carried out 2,450 acts of terrorism. “However, as a consequence of sagacious and far-sighted policies of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the phenomenon of terrorism has been checked in its tracks and the number of terrorist acts has come down to 160.”

She said that the fight against terrorists continues and more successes against them would be achieved. “In the fight against terrorism, Pakistanis have made the ultimate sacrifices… martyred of the armed forces, security force and law enforcement agencies have sacrificed their lives to rid Pakistan of the scourge of terrorism to make it stronger than ever.

Marriyum said that similarly, the energy crisis was also being tackled, and as a result of the efforts of the government the duration of load shedding had been brought down to 4-5 hours per day from 16-17 hours. “The industry of Pakistan has been witnessing ‘zero’ load shedding for the past two years.”