Self esteem our most precious asset: PM

Pakistan

Self esteem our most precious asset: PM

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PM Gilani has said we should not allow our ideology to become outdated in a fast-changing world.

15 October,2011 04:12 pm

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, emphasisng that ‘Ego’ and ‘Faith’ are our most precious assets has said that we should not allow our ideology to become outdated and stagnant in a fast-changing world.Addressing the Iqbal Award Ceremony PM said our nation in the past was not provided with conducive and enabling environment to grow and realize its potential starts. Consequently, conviction dwindled and our national resolve became weak and we could not manage to rise up to those lofty ideals which impart strength and motivation to national life.Even in this suffocating situation of despair, Iqbal serves as a beacon of light and harbinger of hope because his message draws its life from faith.PM said Pakistani nation is highly capable, talented and blessed with unique dynamism and determination to surmount any challenge. It has proven its mettle time and again and did not hesitate to offer any sacrifice.PM said if we had implemented in letter and spirit two facets of Iqbal’s thought ‘Ijtihad’ or reconstruction of religious thought and second is concept of spiritual democracy, Pakistan would have been counted among the developed world.He said today, we are faced with a plethora of problems such as terrorism, extremism, poverty, unemployment and social injustice. We can overcome these if we invoke our latent qualities, revive our faith in ourselves and make a fresh resolve. These are passing crises and we must not allow them to force us into submission. Our most precious asset is our national ego and faith.Every effort made to spread Iqbal’s message is an effort at nation-building, PM said. Commending the Iqbal Academy for its commendable efforts PM announced to enhance the all important Iqbal Award program.“From now on, another Award is being added to the series namely “Nishan-i-Iqbal– The Lifetime Achievement Award”. It will be awarded to those scholars who have rendered outstanding meritorious services in the domain of Iqbal Studies. I am also glad to announce two Gold Medals. From the next year the students who stand first in the Departments ofPhilosophy of the University of the Punjab and the GC University will receive this Iqbal Medal from the Academy”, PM announced. PM also announced a grant of Rs 50 million for the academy.