QUETTA, Dec 8: President General Pervez Musharraf has said that the armed forces of Pakistan are fully prepared to face any challenges to the national security.

He was addressing the students of Command and Staff College here on Friday. Garrison officers as well as students from 22 friendly countries going through a training course at the college were also present on the occasion.

“Pakistan’s strategy of defensive deterrence is in place. It is more credible than ever before and we shall continue to improve upon it,” he said.

President Musharraf said that the world, particularly the ummah, were passing through a critical phase. Due to the impact of globalisation, trouble in any part of the world would affect the rest of the world, he said, adding that if Muslim ummah was troubled, the whole world would suffer.

“So the need of the hour is to resolve all political disputes involving Muslims with justice and equality,” he said.

He said huge amount and resources were being spent on Balochistan to bring it on a par with other provinces.

"Sixteen districts of Balochistan have been converted into ‘A’ areas and the conversion of the rest is in progress," he said.

The president said that complete control over obscurantism was necessary for sustainable economic development and democratic reforms in the country.

He explained in detail his vision to deal with the law and order situation in Fata and Balochistan. He also elaborated his policies for economic turnaround aimed at passing on the benefits to the grass roots level.

The speech followed a 90-minute-long question-answer session attended by over 450 officers.

Corps Commander Lt-Gen Hamid Rab Nawaz was also present on the occasion.

Later speaking at a function, President Musharraf said that in view of a rapid industrial development in the country, the government was in the process of formulating short, medium and long-term strategies to increase power production.

Under these strategies, electricity would be produced using gas, water, coal and alternative sources of energy, he said. He said that gas and coal needed to be explored for producing cheep electricity.

“For exploration of oil, gas and other minerals in Balochistan, we are required to assure foreign and local investors of peace and order,” he said.

APP adds: President Musharraf urged women to reject extremist and obscurantist elements in the forthcoming election and vote for moderate forces “to ensure continuity of the government policy of development and progress across the country, including Balochistan.”

He was addressing a big gathering of women held at a local hotel to celebrate the women’s right act.

On the occasion, he also announced a Rs100 million welfare package for the women of Balochistan.

He said the Quaid-i-Azam had clearly stated that men, women and the minorities would get equal rights in Pakistan “which is an Islamic Republic.”

“We will take Pakistan towards the true ideals of the Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Iqbal," he said, adding that the opponents of the women’s rights act were those who had also opposed the printing of the Holy Quran three centuries back.