LAHORE: Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto today [Nov 2] said that his current tour of the Punjab is for mass contact, and he will try to meet as many people as possible — people of all shades of opinion. Talking to newsmen at the Minar-i-Pakistan ground … he said his tour of the Province had been delayed by about three years … but there were reasons for it. He maintained that he had to tackle problems in other parts of the country — he had to deal with insurgency in Baluchistan, with foreign interference at a massive scale in NWFP, and some of it even in Sind. …

Mr Bhutto dispelled the impression that he had neglected the Punjab. Apart from the fact that Punjab had all along been in his heart, how could he ignore the most populous and important province? ... The Prime Minister said he had nothing but affection … for all the provinces as they were all parts of Pakistan, every corner of which was equally dear to him. “I see them all with the same eye,” he added. Referring to the colourful reception accorded to him in the historic Minar-i-Pakistan gardens … the Prime Minister … said he was overwhelmed … by the warm and kind hospitality.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.