United we stand.
I was watching the late hour news on the PTV network the other day. In the trading and economic news section there was this news report on the Sialkot International Airport. This is an under construction project for both domestic and cargo purposes. The amazing thing about the whole affair is that it is being built not by any govt. agency but by the inhabitants of the city themselves on self help basis. The Sialkotians are indeed coming up to the expectations of their great philosopher and poet Allama Iqbal.
Since Sialkot is majorly an industrial city with major exports in sports goods and surgical instruments there was a dire need for a way of quick delivery of these items to their destinations abroad. As our govt. has decided never to take the right initiative the people of the city took it upon themselves to build an International airport which could cater to their needs of cargo shipment. Thus a group of industrialists got together and formed a company named Sialkot International Airport Construction Company limited. The company has about 200 members in its board of directors. Each member has contributed a sum of about Rs. 5 Million for the construction purposes. The runway is almost complete and the terminal building is being constructed. There is one more distinction to this already distinct project. The runway is 3.2 km. long, the longest in Pakistan. It has been prepared keeping in mind all sorts of airline traffic.
Similar efforts have been taken in terms of building road infrastructure in the city. The business council of the city decided to self tax its members. The tax imposed was 0.25% of the income of every member. With the money thus collected roads worth Rs. 64 corore have been built or upgraded. This is being done under the Sialkot City Project.
This shows two things. One that people are the real power. They can do whatever they want to do. Only you are the master of your own destiny. A positive change can come if we want it to come. No one will give us relief unless we get it for ourselves. Second that people are ready to invest money in any project that is transparent. They are ready to empty their wallets into those treasuries which are used for their betterment and not for any other purposes. Citizens of other cities need to take lessons from this example and try to improve their own condition.
I was watching the late hour news on the PTV network the other day. In the trading and economic news section there was this news report on the Sialkot International Airport. This is an under construction project for both domestic and cargo purposes. The amazing thing about the whole affair is that it is being built not by any govt. agency but by the inhabitants of the city themselves on self help basis. The Sialkotians are indeed coming up to the expectations of their great philosopher and poet Allama Iqbal.
Since Sialkot is majorly an industrial city with major exports in sports goods and surgical instruments there was a dire need for a way of quick delivery of these items to their destinations abroad. As our govt. has decided never to take the right initiative the people of the city took it upon themselves to build an International airport which could cater to their needs of cargo shipment. Thus a group of industrialists got together and formed a company named Sialkot International Airport Construction Company limited. The company has about 200 members in its board of directors. Each member has contributed a sum of about Rs. 5 Million for the construction purposes. The runway is almost complete and the terminal building is being constructed. There is one more distinction to this already distinct project. The runway is 3.2 km. long, the longest in Pakistan. It has been prepared keeping in mind all sorts of airline traffic.
Similar efforts have been taken in terms of building road infrastructure in the city. The business council of the city decided to self tax its members. The tax imposed was 0.25% of the income of every member. With the money thus collected roads worth Rs. 64 corore have been built or upgraded. This is being done under the Sialkot City Project.
This shows two things. One that people are the real power. They can do whatever they want to do. Only you are the master of your own destiny. A positive change can come if we want it to come. No one will give us relief unless we get it for ourselves. Second that people are ready to invest money in any project that is transparent. They are ready to empty their wallets into those treasuries which are used for their betterment and not for any other purposes. Citizens of other cities need to take lessons from this example and try to improve their own condition.
Comments