LAHORE: The Central Communications Minister, Khan A. Sabur, today [March 17] said the soul inspiring unity displayed by the people of the two wings during the September war had proved once and for all that the nation stood united to defend the integrity of the motherland and the geographical barriers were simply meaningless.

At a time when Lahore and Sialkot were subjected to Indian aggression, the young soldiers from both the wings marched shoulder to shoulder and shed their blood for the defence of the country giving birth to a new process of integration, he added.

The Minister, who was speaking at the installation ceremony of the office-bearers of the Pakistan Inter-Wing Students Association, made a strong plea for the compulsory teaching of Bangla in West Pakistan and of Urdu in eastern wing. This, he said, would create better understanding between the people.

He called upon the students, teachers, Journalists and artists of the country to make their contribution to the cause of national integration.

APP adds: Earlier, the new President of the Association, Mr Ahmed Parvez Cheema, amidst cheers announced that Khan A. Sabur had accepted to be the patron of the Association.

The Governor of East Pakistan, Mr Abdul Monem Khan, had sent a message to the organisation on the occasion. The Governor said such organisations when guided properly could make genuine contributions in promoting better understanding among the people of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2017