LAHORE: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Saturday resolved that his government would continue with full spirit its journey of national development till Allama Iqbal's dream of a modern state was accomplished.
Addressing inauguration ceremony of Greater Iqbal Park, he said, "Today we feel blessed to be having the opportunity to execute the dream of Allama Muhammad Iqbal. The government has tackled all three major challenges of terrorism, economic revival and deliverance from energy crisis."
However, he said the people should question the previous rulers for their criminal negligence regarding the power crisis that dragged the country into darkness.
Accompanied by Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif, MNA Hamza Shehbaz, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Zaeem Qadri and others, the prime minister unveiled the plaque to open the facility that would provide a unique entertainment opportunity to the people besides adding another landmark in country's culture and history.
Spread over around 120 acres, the park is almost entirely surrounded by the old city of Lahore and located very close to Minar-e-Pakistan, Mausoleum of Allama Iqbal, Walled City and Lahore Fort.
Visitors can lounge on rolling lawns and have the panoramic view of the symbolic Minar-e-Pakistan, the majestic Lahore Fort, the iconic Azadi Interchange and the historic Badshahi Mosque that also shelters the tomb of Allama Iqbal.
Special pavilions has been established at the park which represents the culture of all federating units of the country.
Addressing the ceremony, the prime minister said the record development projects were being executed in Balochistan including a vast network of roads to link the province with rest of the country as well as Central Asia and China.
He said motorway network that could not move ahead from Lahore since 1998, was now being expanded up to Karachi as work on its various sections was underway.
The prime minister said the venue of the park was the nexus of the past and the future as it was surrounded by Badshahi Mosque representing a glorious past and Minar-e-Pakistan that recalls us the dream for a bright future by our forefathers on March 23, 1940.
He said Allama Iqbal, now buried between both Minar-e-Pakistan and Badshahi Mosque had not only dreamt of an independent state, but also provided us a great leader Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah perceiving his capability to accomplish the dream of a Muslim state.
The Greater Iqbal Park had opened a another beautiful chapter in the beauty of Lahore for what he congratulated the chief minister and his team.
The prime minister also lauded them for beautifying the tomb of Hafeez Jalandhari located in the very park, who wrote the lyrics of the national anthem of Pakistan.
He suggested the Punjab government to install more lights in and around the park to illuminate the area to attract more people there even at night and apprised the audience that the renovation of Lahore Fort would start soon.
He said just like economy, energy and other sectors, the previous governments also ignored tourism and culture but his government was paying due attention on the subject.
Targeting an opposition party without naming it, the prime minister said a clear warning should be displayed outside the park that the facility was not for holding sit-ins as they continue searching for such a site.
He reiterated his government's resolve to overcome loadshedding within its tenure what he believed would boost country's industry, agriculture, exports, stock market, foreign exchange reserves and ultimately create ample employment opportunities.
He said as immense development activities were going in Balochistan, the miscreants were unable to find any rationale to disrupt peace in the province.
Referring to recent inauguration of Sorab-Hoshab Road, the prime minister said with the construction of new roads, the Quetta- Gwadar travel distance had been reduced from 48 to 8 hours.
He said expansion of road network was essential component his development agenda as without highways and motorways, the development could not be taken to the remote areas. The roads would also bring the people closer to one and other, he believed.
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif resolved that Gwadar would be developed as a modern city and Gwadar Port at par with other free ports in the world.
He said the government was spending around $7 billion for upgradation of railways that would double its speed. The power projects were being executed with swift pace that was also being hailed by China.
Besides road network, both the federal and Punjab governments were striving to build hospitals even in small towns.
Later, the prime minister alongwith Deputy Chairman PHA Iftikhar Ahmed presented a souvenir to Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif who also earlier presented the park's design to the former as souvenir.
In his address, Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the park had summed up the country's culture and history represented by food courts, thematic doors, buggy, golf carts and decorated with multiple indigenous species of flowers and trees.
He said the park would be run by an independent authority under the PHA to ensure cleanliness and maintenance of the facility. The food courts at the park would also be ensured to serve hygienic food at par with the international standards.
He said park was directly linked with the safe city control room to monitor the activities in the park and avert any untoward incident.
Apprising the audience about the features of the project, Director General Parks and Horticultural Authority Shakeel Ahmed said the project cost Rs 1186 million and had been executed by the PHA within 13 months.
He said park also featured a beautiful lake spread over 4.5 acres wherein Pakistan's first dancing fountain synchronized with music had also been installed.
He said the doors of the food court established at the park had also been designed in a way to represent the culture of the federating units as Pakistan was the theme of the park. A natural history museum and national heroes' gallery were also being established at the park, he added.
The display of the dancing fountain was also made that mesmerized the gathering as the fountain jetted the water in the air amid laser show dancing to the tunes of different songs.
Commissioner Lahore Division Abdullah Khan Sumbal also addressed the ceremony.
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