Quaid-i-Azam's Speech On the occasion of the Opening Ceremony of The State Bank of Pakistan

History

Last Updated on Sunday, 18 April 2010 00:13 Saturday, 26 December 2009 01:38

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"Mr. Governor, Directors of State Bank, Ladies and

Gentlemen

The opening of the State Bank of Pakistan symbolises the sovereignty of our State in the financial sphere and I am very glad to be here today to perform the opening ceremony. It was not considered feasible to start a Bank of our own simultaneously with the coming into being of Pakistan in August last year. A good deal of preparatory work must precede the inauguration of an institution responsible for such technical and delicate work as note issue and banking. To allow for this preparation, it was provided, under the Pakistan Monetary System and Reserve Bank Order, 1947, that the Reserve Bank of India should continue to be the currency and banking authority of Pakistan till the 30th September, 1948. Later on it was felt that it would be in the best interests of our State if the Reserve Bank of India were relieved of its functions in Pakistan, as early as possible. The State of transfer of these functions to a Pakistan agency was consequently advanced by three months in agreement with the Government of India and the Reserve Bank. It was at the same time decided to establish a Central Bank of Pakistan in preference to any other agency for managing our currency and banking. This decision left very little time for the small band of trained personnel in this field in Pakistan to complete the preliminaries and they have by their untiring effort and hard work completed their task by the due date which is very creditable to them, and I wish to record a note of our appreciation of their labours.

As you have observed, Mr. Governor in undivided India banking was kept a close preserve of non-Muslims and their migration from Western Pakistan has caused a good deal of dislocation in the economic life of our young State. In order that the wheels of commerce and industry should run smoothly, it is imperative that the vacuum caused by the exodus of non-Muslims should be filled without delay. I am glad to note that schemes for training Pakistan nationals in banking are in hand. I will watch their progress with interest and I am confident that the State Bank will receive the co-operation of all concerned including the banks and Universities in pushing them forward. Banking will provide a new and wide field in which the genius of our young men can find full play. I am sure that they will come forward in large numbers to take advantage of the training facilities which are proposed to be provided. While doing so, they will not only be benefiting themselves but also contributing to the well-being of our State.

I need hardly dilate on the important role that the State Bank will have to play in regulating the economic life of our country. The monetary policy of the bank will have a direct bearing on our trade and commerce, both inside Pakistan as well as with the outside world and it is only to be desired that your policy should encourage maximum production and a free flow of trade. The monetary policy pursued during the war years contributed, in no small measure, to our present day economic problems. The abnormal rise in the cost of living has hit the poorer sections of society including those with fixed incomes very hard indeed and is responsible to a great extent for the prevailing unrest in the country. The policy of the Pakistan Government is to stabilise prices at a level that would be fair to the producer, as well as the consumer. I hope your efforts will be directed in the same direction in order to tackle this crucial problem with success.

I shall watch with keenness the work of your Research Organization in evolving banking practices compatible with Islamic ideas of social and economic life. The economic system of the West has created almost insoluble problems for humanity and to many of us it appears that only a miracle can save it from disaster that is not facing the world. It has failed to do justice between man and man and to eradicate friction from the international field. On the contrary, it was largely responsible for the two world wars in the last half century. The Western world, in spite of its advantages, of mechanization and industrial efficiency is today in a worse mess than ever before in history. The adoption of Western economic theory and practice will not help us in achieving our goal of creating a happy and contended people.  We must work our destiny in our own way and present to the world an economic system based on true Islamic concept of equality of manhood and social justice. We will thereby be fulfilling our mission as Muslims and giving to humanity the message of peace which alone can save it and secure the welfare, happiness and prosperity of mankind.

May the Sate Bank of Pakistan prosper and fulfil the high ideals which have been set as its goal.

In the end I thank you, Mr. Governor, for the warm welcome given to me by you and your colleagues, and the distinguished guests who have graced this occasion as a mark of their good wishes and the honour your have done me in inviting me to perform this historic opening ceremony of the State Bank which I feel will develop into one of our greatest national institutions and play its part fully throughout the world."

Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah

1st July, 1948

NRO - Falsehood is Bound to Perish

Reports

Last Updated on Sunday, 20 December 2009 09:01 Saturday, 19 December 2009 11:03

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 By Sadaf Zamir

Finally, the long awaited historical moment to declare NRO as null and void came out to be jubilated by the patriots and the general masses of Pakistan. While a few are petrified and defensive, the nation is anticipating the return of nation’s money by re-initiation of investigations and court cases from the point of Oct. 5, 2007.

The excitement is not just in the educated and politically aware circles but also in the less educated and less privileged masses. They all look forward to the judiciary as well as the patriotic and sincere leaders who were forced to go into the background and not given real freedom and access to media that should be part of democracy. People in all circles are questioning ‘What will all of this lead to? What will happen to the foreign money laundering cases? Will it force the Corrupt Office bearers to resign or step down? Does the immunity under article 248(2) have such extensive coverage as to keep protecting the current presidency?  Will the government start taking the right steps or would the public need to force them down with the help of judiciary?’

One cover that has been adopted in the recent past by some major players to divert attention from the current government’s affairs is terrorism. However, the blind eye to the rapid accrual of foreign nationals already operating in the country is seemingly facilitating the terror attacks on the agendas of some well known enemy agencies.

Some mutually supported mafia clique still wants to bluff the public that actions resulting from removals or forced resignations will result in instability giving opportunity to the terrorists in Pakistan. While the enemies are waiting for their opportunities, it is positively anticipated that our PPP led government, which still has some patriots, would not trigger yet another altercation with the nation.  It is advised in the best interest of nation as well as the interest of government that appropriate steps should be immediately taken through parliament by voluntarily removing the controversial people from office. The public may wait a little in the current circumstances, but will not be fooled any further.

People can now appropriately relate to

Proceeding in the right direction, further strong stance will be required by the government and responsible agencies/systems to abate presence of foreigners involved in suspicious activities in the country. The conspiracy to attach an image of a corrupt, terrorist and failing state to Pakistan and getting hold of our nuclear assets will consequently perish on its own if and only if we all strengthen our faiths and get back the moral values, honesty & true belief in life after death taught by Islam and earlier religions, in our individual and collective lives.

Code Green Pakistan First

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Sunday, 22 November 2009 12:23

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HawkEye:Are NRO cases Dead or will haunt the Govt. Discussion with Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting Sumsam Bukhari,Syed Zafar Ali Shah (PML-N, Senator), Enver Baig (PPP-P)

Leaders

Last Updated on Friday, 20 November 2009 07:53 Friday, 20 November 2009 06:37

Exclusive Discussion: IS NRO REALLY DEAD OR WILL IT HAUNT THE GOVT. AFTER NOV 28? Syed Sumsam Ali Shah Bukhari (Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, PPP-P) Syed Zafar Ali Shah (PML N, Senator) Mohammad Enver Baig (Ex-Senator, PPP-P)