News
‘Govt committed to strengthening economy, improving law, order’
* President says govt to generate 21,000MW electricity by setting up new power plants
APP
KARACHI: President Mamnoon Hussain said on Sunday that the government accorded top priority to strengthening economy and improving law and order situation in the country.
He expressed optimism that the country would be on the track of prosperity and development when the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government completed its five-year term. The president, while talking to the representatives of electronic media, said the present government was not responsible for the persisting social and economic conditions. However, it was now its duty to bring about improvement and development in the country.
He said the federal government had the resolve to restore peace and ensure security in Karachi. The targeted operation by the law enforcing agencies would continue till the objective was achieved, he added. Replying to a question, President Mamnoon did not rule out the operation against Taliban in case of failure of the peace dialogue. The country could not further afford lawlessness and terrorism, he added. “We all should pray for the success of dialogue between the government and Taliban,” he said.
He said the objective of the surgical airstrikes in certain areas of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) was to make Taliban realise that the government could go to any extent for establishing its writ and the rule of law in the country. He said in case of an operation in the tribal areas, there would be no big migration of people to Sindh as they would probably prefer to settle down in the nearest areas. The government was moving in the right direction. However, it would take some time till the situation improved in these areas, he added.
The president said with the cooperation of people, the law enforcing agencies would ensure peace and security to life and property of the people in Karachi soon. He said the mega city with around 20 million population and 500 katchi abadis (slums) had apparently become a sanctuary for the terrorists and criminals. Mamnoon Hussain said his visit to China was very successful as it had pledged to invest millions of dollars in Pakistan, which would also create job opportunities.
He termed the Economic Coordinator a unique project of the century. Not only Pakistan and China but Central Asia and entire Europe would also benefit from the mega project, he added. He said two nuclear power plants being set up in Karachi with the Chinese cooperation, would generate 2,200 MW electricity. Three more such plants would also be set up in other areas of the country. He said China would also soon start the work on Lahore -Karachi Motorway project.
The president said China would purchase F-17 Thunder fighter aircraft from Pakistan for its air force. This would increase the demand for the aircraft in international market. China would also sell F-17 fighter helicopters to Pakistan, which would prove to be an effective tool in the war against terrorism, he said and added that it would also supply a submarine to Pakistan. He said China had doubled the amount of its loan to Pakistan to two million RMB.
Mamnoon Hussain said he had meetings with the Chinese president and prime minister, the Chairman of Peoples’ Congress, and the Secretary of Chinese Communist Party. He said China was following a policy to avoid conflicts and to only focus on strengthening its economy till 2025. He said the government had planned to set up various power projects, including coal-fired, hydro and solar, to generate 21,000MW of power. Answering another query, he said the situation in Balochistan was improving. This was the only province where local body elections were recently held in a peaceful manner, he added. Mamnoon Hussain said he had no political role to play after his election as president of the country. Being the chancellor of 17 universities, he would work for the promotion of quality education and better health facilities in the country, he added.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk