ISLAMABAD, Nov 6: Quaid-i-Azam gave the top most importance to economic independence and was of the view that it was only self-reliance and the prosperous economy of Pakistan that could ensure our freedom and independence in the long run.

This was stated by Dr Muhammad Abdullah, a close companion of father of the nation, while speaking at a seminar on “Quaid-i-Azam as a Statesman” organized by Small Business Finance Corporation here at its Head Office on Tuesday.

He said the crucial phase Pakistan was passing through these days called for seeking guidance from the life and character of Quaid-i-Azam. “A true way of paying tribute to Quaid is that we make unity, faith and discipline our guiding principles in our daily life,” he said. Dr Abdullah said, through his unabated efforts, the Quaid-i- Azam had secured Pakistan with a view to provide the Muslims of the subcontinent with a welfare state where they could live in peace and harmony according to the teachings of Islam. But, unfortunately, our successive governments, in pursuit of their own ambitions, have driven the country in the opposite direction and the vision of Quaid has almost vanished from the land, he said. Dr Abdullah said that Quaid-i-Azam was a great visionary who visualized Pakistan as a moderate and social welfare state where people from all walks of life enjoyed equal opportunities for their economic top lift.

He said that Quaid-i-Azam wanted to see Pakistan as a great nation among the community of nations and by virtue of his statesmanship he laid solid foundations for a prosperous Pakistan in a very short span of time. Earlier, Mr. Kaiser Naseem, Managing Director of SBFC in his welcome speech said that the seminar was a very humble effort on the part of SBFC to pay tributes to the father of the nation.

He said SBFC was trying its best to give a realistic shape to the economic vision of Quaid-i-Azam.