ISLAMABAD, June 26: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that Pakistan has all the essential elements of democracy. Speaking at the inaugural session of an envoys’ conference at the Foreign Office, he said the country had a functioning and sovereign parliament, an active opposition, unrestricted political activity, free press and independent judiciary. He said good governance had been provided through transparency and accountability.

Provincial and national elections would be held next year, he said.

He said Pakistan’s efforts to normalise relations with India had achieved partial results and the time had come for dispute resolution, especially of the core dispute of Kashmir. He said Pakistan remained committed to promoting security and stability in Afghanistan in its own national interest.

He said: “We have managed to maintain and improve our relations with all the major powers. We are a major non-Nato ally of the United States as well as a strategic partner of China. Our relations with the European Union, Russia and Japan have steadily grown in substance. Pakistan remains a key partner of the international community in the war against terrorism. We have consistently maintained a principled position in favour of just and equitable resolution of the Palestine and Kashmir issues on the basis of self-determination.”

“We must never be apologetic or defensive about the country or the pursuit of our interests,” he said.

“We must broaden the scope of our diplomacy and adopt a multi-pronged strategy,” he stressed.

The prime minister said expatriate Pakistanis remitted over $4 billion every year and they were the largest potential source of foreign investment. Providing them customer-friendly services and addressing their problems expeditiously could greatly contribute towards enlisting their support for the promotion of the country’s interests, he noted.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.