What's behind the PMLN-Bahawalpur Love Affair?

[Good Governance Forum]

Dear All:

What's behind the PMLN-Bahawalpur Love Affair?

Mian Shahbaz Sharif has been in yet another political love affair for the past couple of years. It may be called the PMLN-Bahawalpur Love Affair (PBLA), initiated and nurtured by Mian Shahbaz Sharif, CM, Punjab. He geared up the provincial government to develop mega projects for Bahawalpur to thwart any attempt by the rival PPP to make inroads on the promise of creating Bahawalpur province. Wonderful move!

The other side of the PMLN-Bahawalpur Love Affair is equally praiseworthy. By bringing progress and prosperity to Bahawalpur, the PMLN will be doing a great service to the people of Punjab in particular and the people of Pakistan in general. 

Bahawalpur has been one of the major sanctuaries of the politico-religious and the politico-ethnic groups for recruiting and training militants. A sitting member of the Punjab Assembly told me a couple of years back that the abominable poverty was the main cause of flourishing sanctuaries. She told me that Bahawalpur had poor families of 8 to 10 persons each. If one of the family members received the option to get Rs 3 to 5 lacs and join the militant group, the rest of the family thought it worthwhile. The one young man might die for the sake of remaining family members who would die any way sooner or later if the poverty continued. 

Mian Shahbaz Sharif would be doing a great service to the people of Bahawalpur as well as the people of Pakistan if he spares some time and energy to let the Bahawalpur Institute of Advanced Technologies (BIAT), sponsored by FASAT, take off the ground. 

Fasat (Foundation for Advancement of Engineering Sciences and Advanced Technologies) was set up under the leadership of Admiral (r) Iftikhar Sirohey and the Punjab government earmarked 2,050 acres of barren land in Bahawalpur for the purpose of setting up the project, the first of its kind in Pakistan, if not Asia. Admiral Sahib visited the US, UK, Australia and other countries to muster support for the project. He was assured by renowned universities there that every support would be coming the way of BIAT from them PROVIDED the latter was able to set up the first block on the campus.

From 2008 onwards, I did everything possible to get the land transferred in the name of FASAT and the CM Punjab issued no less than 9 directives to the concerned departments to sort out the issues but the matter still remains where it was SEVEN years back. The then chairman of the Chief Minister's Monitoring Cell, Khawaja Haroon, did a great favour by obtaining the required 21/22 NOCs for the project from the various government agencies. Unfortunately, he resigned after the PMLN-led government was removed by the then Governor Salman Taseer. He didn't resume after the government was reinstated to probably focus on his hotels business.

Being a member of the Board of Directors myself, I have requested Admiral Sirohey Sahib to get on our feet again and reactivate the old files in the Punjab government. We also plan to meet the CM Punjab this month to once again request for his personal intervention. He has all along been very supportive but somehow the people below him didn't like Bahawalpur at that time. Maybe, its now the right time, In sha Allah.

You are most welcome to support the national cause of developing advanced sciences and technologies in Pakistan in any manner convenient for you.

Regards.

Mumtaz A. Piracha

Founder/Chairman

Good Governance Forum

Leading the Way to the Challenge of Change in Pakistan

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