We Should Be Proud of Madaris:

We Should be Proud of Madaris: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz

(Correspondent CCNews Portal) ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday said that Pakistan does not need to adopt an apologetic approach on religious Madaris rather “We should be proud of these institutions that are imparting education.”

At the same time, the prime minister maintained that the government is well aware of its responsibilities to take action against those spreading hatred and extremism. “There are some Madaris that are involved in extremism and we will definitely take action against them,” the prime minister said in his inaugural speech at a two-day international conference on “Governing for MDGs” -with focus on incentives, ownership and institutions” being organized by National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) and the World Bank Institute.

Aziz said Pakistan would achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the end of 2015. “We are pursuing a national agenda and not personal agenda.” With the implementation of good governance and transparency, he said, the government was moving ahead to achieve the MDGs. We have taken reforms for improvements in all sectors.” Attributing success in continuity and consistency in government reforms, he spoke at length about the progress Pakistan has made in each of these areas and said unless “there is a sense of ownership in the home-grown policies and self-reliance, it is difficult to achieve these ambitious goals.”

The prime minister said that the government has a long way to go and undertake more reforms in every facet of society. A strong nation is built on the foundations of a strong economy.” With the growth rate of 7 per cent, he said, Pakistan would achieve all targets set for the current year. “Size of the economy has doubled and per capita income may go up to 950 dollars and cross the 1000 dollars mark next year.”

The prime minister claimed that poverty has declined from around 34.5 per cent to 24 per cent. Urban poverty dropped from 20 per cent to 15 per cent, while the rural from 39 per cent to 28 per cent and 13 million people have come out of the vicious circle of poverty.” Shaukat Aziz said the construction of Bhasha dam will increase water storage capacity and help meet country’s growing energy requirements.

Meanwhile, Speaker National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain, while addressing the function, praised the NRB Chairman Daniyal Aziz while describing him as one of the best parliamentarians in present assemblies. The NRB chairman, in his address, said that the country needs to be pulled out of the influence of the British rule.