News
Thursday, July 11, 2013
‘Peace, security paramount for economic growth’* Nawaz says no option except vigorously pursuing well-planned, coordinated strategy to find solution to problem of terrorism
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that peace and security are of paramount importance for economic growth, as both are intertwined.
“Pakistan has suffered long at the hands of terrorism and we cannot afford inaction anymore. Curbing terrorism is my government’s top most priority,” said the prime minister in a meeting with parliamentarians from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas who met him at the Prime Minister’s Office. Reiterating the resolve of his government to eliminate terrorism, Nawaz said that we have no option except vigorously pursuing a well-planned and coordinated strategy to find a meaningful solution to the problem of terrorism.
Expressing the utility of dialogue, the prime minister said, “The door to dialogue should be kept open all the time.” He further said that FATA parliamentarians are the real stakeholders and their input and consultation for finalising roadmap for peace in the region is a must. Showing deep pity over the lawlessness and economic backwardness prevailing in FATA due to terrorism, the prime minister said that he wants to give peace as a gift to the people of the region.
Enumerating the sacrifices that Pakistani civilians and law-enforcement agencies’ personnel have rendered in the war against terror, the prime minister said, “We salute all those who laid down their lives in the fight against terror and those who withstood the onslaught of hardships of time without getting intimidated in the process.” The prime minister said that the people of Pakistan have shown their utmost resilience in their hour of adversity and it is this national character and unrelenting hope for peace which will help us defeat the forces of terror.
The meeting also discussed various proposals and recommendations put forward by FATA parliamentarians to bring the area into the national mainstream. Responding to their suggestions for the uplift of FATA, the prime minister expressed the resolve of his government to institute such policies and projects in the area which would help the people of the area to play their positive and constructive role at the national level. The FATA parliamentarians expressed complete confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz and hoped that Pakistan would be able to surmount several challenges it faces under his visionary leadership.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Pervez Rashid, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Minister for SAFRON Lt Gen (r) Abdul Qadir Baloch, Adviser to PM on National Security Sartaj Aziz, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Engineer Shaukatullah, Special Assistant to PM on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan, Pir Sabir Shah, Engineer Amir Muqam, Khawaja Muhammad Khan Hoti, FATA parliamentarians and senior officials attended the meeting.
Governor Engineer Shaukatullah Khan called on Prime Minister Nawaz and discussed with him law and order situation in the province and FATA. According to details, the KP governor in his meeting with the prime minister discussed key issues relating to prevailing political, national security and law and order situation. Moreover, FATA parliamentarians also met with the prime minister. Tribal members said they would continue to support the mandate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government. Nawaz Sharif discussed administrative, development and political affairs of FATA with members of National Assembly and Senate.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk