Collective efforts needed for promoting tolerance: Asif

Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif has stressed on need of collective efforts to change mindset of the society for promotion of tolerance. While addressing the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected office-bearers of District Bar Association here on Saturday, he said it was unfortunate that some elements were using the name of religion and they were indulged in terrorists activities for their personal gains.
He said the PML-N government was committed to overcome the energy crisis on priority basis and all resources were being mobilized for generating maximum electricity to get rid of loadshedding. Asif said that due to effective policies of the government, there was a considerable and visible improvement in electricity supply and the duration of loadshedding had been reduced to many folds in the country.
"Loadshedding will be finished by the end of current year," he said. About Sialkot-Lahore Motorway, he said that development work on its three sections was in full swing, adding the Motorway would help in linking remote areas along with its track and reduced the distance between Sialkot-Lahore which would be covered in 45 minutes. He said that mega project of Motorway would open new vistas of development and prosperity as well as accelerate the export activities.
Asif said that Sialkot-Eminabad road would also be converted into duel carriage way for ensuring smooth flow of traffic. He said that under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, country was on road of development and prosperity and record development projects had been undertaken by the PML-N government to facilitate the masses.
The minister disclosed that ultra modern Engineering University and the NUST campus would be established on 500 acres of land and work on both the projects would soon be started. President District Bar Shaukat Ali Choudary presented the address of welcome. Earlier, the minister administered the oath to the elected office-bearers of the bar. The oath ceremony was attended by a large number of lawyers as well as members of civil society.