Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani (C) stands for the national anthem chant atthe flag hoisting ceremony in Islamabad on August 14, 2011, during the 64th Independence Day celebrations. – AFP

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said democracy is a guarantor of peace and prosperity and the government will continue building consensus with all political parties to resolve issues facing the country.

In his address to the nation here on Sunday at a ceremony at Convention Centre to mark Pakistan’s 64th Independence Day, the Prime Minister said the parliament is about to complete its four years and that the political leadership of Pakistan agrees that it will succeed in stabilising democracy.

The prime minister felicitated the nation on its 64th Independence Day and paid rich tributes to the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and leaders of the Pakistan Movement for providing a spirited leadership which created the world’s first ideological state through democratic struggle.

“The creation of Pakistan was the best example of democratic struggle,” he noted.

The prime minister also praised PPP leaders Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto for laying down their lives for democratic ideals and rights of people.

He vowed to continue working for strengthening democracy by sustaining the process of reconciliation through consultations with the political parties.

“All issues can be resolved through consensus and understanding.”

Gilani mentioned recent reforms in FATA which brought changes in Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) and allowed political parties to start activities with extension in Political Parties Order 2002 and said the reforms will enable the people to take hold of their destiny.

He lauded the scientists of SUPARCO for bringing Pakistan at par with other countries in field of space technology by launching a new satellite to meet communication needs of Pakistan.

It is a top priority of the democratic government to run affairs in the provinces with mutual agreement and in this spirit provincial autonomy was given under the 18th Amendment, he added.

Gilani said after a decade, through the seventh NFC award, the federal government has substantially increased the financial resources of the provinces which is a major success.

Prime Minister Gilani said those regions which were ignored in the past, were given rights, powers and recognition by the government and now Gilgit-Baltistan has internal autonomy.

He assured that the federal government will not ignore the education sector despite devolution of ministry to the provinces under the 18th Amendment.

Soon a national education conference will be held with the consultation of provinces and decisions will be taken with mutual understanding to promote the process of creating harmony in education, he added.