QUETTA, Dec 19: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Thursday hoped that the mega-projects launched during the last three years in Balochistan would be completed on schedule.
Talking to former members of the Balochistan cabinet at the Governor’s House, he specifically mentioned the projects of coastal highway, Gwadar port, Mirani dam and Kachhi canal.
“We have laid solid foundation of economic development,” the president said and expressed the hope that the elected government would strengthen it further.
He said his government had introduced good governance, merit and corruption-free administration in the country.
The president lauded the services of the former provincial ministers and said they had rendered commendable services to their province. He said he would like to maintain the good relations cultivated during the last three years with the former cabinet members.
Balochistan Governor Justice Amirul Mulk Mengal, Corps Commander Lt-Gen Abdul Qadir, Chief Secretary Pervez Saleem were also present on the occasion.
ECONOMY’S REVIVAL: Earlier, speaking to student officers, directing staff and senior army officers during his visit to the Command and Staff College, the president said that by the grace of Allah, the economy had achieved stability, despite four major shocks—- international recession, economic fallout of Sept 11 terror attacks in the US, prolonged drought in the country and India’s belligerent attitude of concentrating its armed forces on Pakistan’s borders.
He said the last three years had been a watershed in Pakistan’s history as the decisions taken during that period had a far-reaching impact on the betterment of country’s international standing and economic revival.
He said the nation could rightfully feel proud that all challenges facing the country had been met successfully, and that Pakistan was moving forward on the path of progress and prosperity.
Gen Musharraf reiterated that Pakistan desired peaceful co-existence with all countries of the world and the region on the basis of equality with honour and dignity.
On border tensions, the president said that all Indian attempts to coerce Pakistan by carrying out unprovoked troop’s escalation on the Line of Control, working boundary and international border had failed.
He paid rich tributes to the armed forces of Pakistan, who, he said, had showed determination, professionalism and above all faith in Allah by braving all odds in the defence of the motherland.
The president said Islamabad desired resolution of all disputes between India and Pakistan, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir, through a meaningful dialogue. This principled position of Pakistan had been endorsed and acknowledged by the international community also, he added.
His speech was followed by a question and answer session.
Corps Commander Lt-Gen Abdul Kauder and Commandant Command and Staff College, Maj-Gen Moshin Kamal, had received the president on arrival.
He said “we have laid solid foundation of economic development, and hoped that the elected government would strengthen it further.”
He said his government had introduced good governance, merit and corruption free administration in the country.
The President lauded the services of the former provincial ministers and said they had rendered commendable services to their province. He said he would like to maintain the good relations cultivated during the last three years with the former cabinet members in future.—APP
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