Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, while addressing the Honhaar Scholarship ceremony at the University of Sargodha said that she is extremely proud of her children. She directed to undertake steps so as to provide scholarships to second and third year students as well.
She said, “The Honhaar Scholarship is the first and biggest scholarship program in the history of Pakistan. I am very happy to see the talented sons and daughters of Sargodha University. The guard of honor is a recognition of their ability and hard work. I get very emotional when the children receive guard of honor. I salute such students who continue to work despite lack of resources. I congratulate the students, parents and teachers who received scholarships. I understand financial difficulties of the parents who teach their children.”
She added, “Do not express gratitude to me for getting a Honhaar Scholarship, it is your right and the fruit of your hard work. Students should take the Honhaar Scholarship as their right and congratulate their parents on my behalf as well. I thank Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat and Secretary Higher Education Dr. Fakhar Naveed for making the Honhaar Scholarship program a success.”
CM Punjab said, “All the children are getting scholarships without any discrimination across Punjab. Increase the across Honhaar Scholarship from 30 thousand to 50 thousand. People's money is the trust of the people and should be spent on them. I thank to Allah Almighty that no scholarship was given on any recommendation. No child's background or political affiliation was asked for giving Honhaar Scholarship. For me, everyone is equal. I do not think about students as a Chief Minister but as a mother.”
She added, “Pakistan is our mother land and a mother cannot discriminate between children. The state is like a mother, how can a mother tolerate that one child studies in a good university and the other remains deprived of getting education? Hardworking children failing to get admission in colleges and universities is a matter of concern for the state. Honhaar Scholarships are a means of support for the parents of children. Children from 68 disciplines are getting Honhaar Scholarships. Students from 12 good ranking private universities are also getting Honhaar Scholarships.”
She said, “Children should study artificial intelligence, robotics and environmental subjects, which will provide them with immediate employment in the job market. I was surprised to see class five children studying artificial intelligence in China. Education eliminates the gap between rich and poor and establishes social equality. I have devoted the entire month of January for the children. I myself visit educational institutions so as to listen and understand the children. Laptops have arrived, I will visit soon to distribute them among the talented students. I have myself selected best laptops available in the market for children.”
She added, “We are working on a project to provide one lac free bikes to children next year. I am not sitting as your Chief Minister but as a mother. This homeland is yours, you are its guardian, I could not hold my emotions after listening this national song. We are all responsible for the honour and sanctity of out mother land, we should not betray it. If there is a soil like mother, there can be no betrayal. If a talented student gets a scholarship, he/she should promise not to betray the mother land. Each of our children is like a brick in the foundation of the country.”
CM Punjab said, “The youth should make a pledge that no matter what happens, they will not go against their dear homeland. Those who incite to commit arson, siege and attacks cannot be your friends. Do not believe everything blindly, investigate everything. Children who were seduced by others are behind bars today. What must have happened to their parents? The children apologized and came out, and if they did nothing wrong, why did they apologize? Do not become fuel for someone's greed for power. I wonder what must be going through the hearts of Ehsan Niazi's father and mother. The one who desecrated military uniform by hanging it on a pole was imprisoned for ten years. When he will be released, the world will have changed. Uniformed people sacrifice their lives for you, they do not tolerate such a mockery.”
She added, “There was no young policeman or Rangers personnel in the hospital whose skull was not broken. When things get difficult, the police are called for help which politics in the world teaches you to snatch someone's life? It is your job to think who is misleading you. Slandering tantamount to a major sin in our religion. I say that what you are suffering is a punishment of your misdeeds. If your government is not there, then beat the policemen. If the army is with you, then it is good, if it is not, then it is bad.”
She said, “There was no need to burn Jinnah House for the sake of political differences. When I come home, I greet my father and take his prayers. The reward for giving respect and honour to parents is bestowed in this world. I was arrested in front of my father and put in the death cell. I received the news of my mother's passing away in Adiala Jail, despite this shock, I incite anyone to attack or burn public properties.”
CM Punjab added, “the children should take a pledge that no child will respond to the call of burning or vandalism. Children will always listen to the voice of their parents and respond to the voice of the mother land. IG Islamabad Ali Rizvi lost his eye due to mob violence. They made politics a symbol of insult, politics is not a bad thing, in fact it is like a worship. If politics is done for the welfare of the people, it is a noble deed. There is no political agenda while making decisions for the well being of people. I say on oath that in previous 10 months, not a single person has been appointed on any recommendation. The members of the assembly who lend their support him in difficult times get angry, but the position is a trust of the people and cannot be betrayed.”
She said, “If someone says that Maryam betrayed, I will be accountable before Allah Almighty. It is very easy to say turn off the fan, turn off the AC, stop giving food, but this is our practice. Giving respect and honour to mothers, sisters, sons is mandatory for all of us. My father, uncle and brother who worked hard for 6 years also remained in the prison but did not think against their country. I fail to understand how come such people who spoil the future of children can have a sound sleep.”
She added, “I urged the youth that when the country faces a problem, keep the honour and respect of the country and parents foremost in their mind. When PML-N came into power, opponents were talking of our country getting default, after ten months the stock market broke all records and is on the rise. When I visited to China, I found investors waiting for making investment in Pakistan. If I spend time on revengeful activities, how will I serve the people?”
She said, “We want to introduce our country as a civilized nation across the globe. The fourth floor of the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology in Sargodha has been completed. Dozens of patients have been shifted through air ambulance service. The construction of the Cancer Hospital Lahore is ongoing swiftly. I am also working on an international scholarship scheme for children. I heartily feel to spend all the money for the well being of our talented children. A poor man’s child could not even think of getting education in LUMS earlier. By the grace of Allah Almighty the doors for attaining education have been opened for everyone. Not only scholarships, but employment opportunities are also being introduced for the children. Now the time has come for every child, boy or girl, to walk with the sense of pride, will study a lot, and will make immense progress.”