"To see Pakistan as developed, strong and viable Muslim state in the Islamic world has been always one of my dreams and time has come to transform this dream into realty", he said while talking to a delegation of Ulema and Mashaikh belonging to Rawalpindi-Islamabad and Attock, which called on the minister here on Saturday.
Shaukat said under the able guidance and support of Ulema and Mashaikh, he would make his best efforts to fulfill this mission.
The Ulema on the occasion expressed their complete support to Shaukat Aziz in the fulfilment of his mission for the cause of Islam and Pakistan.
The Finance Minister told them that he held Ulema and Mashaikh in high esteem and with their co-operation and guidance he would make efforts and take steps for the supremacy of Islam and country's prosperity.
"We do not believe in mere slogans but practical steps for the promotion of the country and welfare of its people," he remarked.
Shaukat Aziz reminded them that once the national kitty was empty and today after hectic efforts and due to prudent economic policies initiated by the government during the past five years has helped filled the reserves.
He said the government wanted to make Pakistan an Islamic welfare state and to achieve this objective the Islamic Ideology Council has been re-organised and represented with members belonging to various schools of thought.
He added that government has asked the Council to submit its recommendations regarding laws, in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunnah.
The delegation members Maulana Abdul Qadir Al Azhari, Hafiz Muhammad Iqbal Rizvi, Maulana Ghulam Ali Muhammad Qari Muhammad Amin Sayalvi and Dr Shafiq Rehman also spoke at the occasion and assured their full support to the Minister in the forthcoming by-elections.
Besides Allama Syed Chiraghuddin Shah, Haji Hanif Tayyab, Allama Ghulam Muhammad, Divisional Khateeb Rawalpindi Allama Bashir Ahmed Sayalvi, Hafiz Naseem Khalil, Hafiz Muhammad Iqbal and others, Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister Punjab, Rahat Qudoosi was also present at the occasion.
Hafiz Naseem Khalil presented a set of the Holy Quran to Shaukat Aziz.