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Sunday, September 29, 2013
Dialogue top option to tackle terrorism in Pakistan: Nawaz* PM says elaborate plan drawn up to step up economic uplift through a series of projects in fields of infrastructure, energy, education and intra-regional economic corridor
NEW YORK: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that dialogue will be the top priority of his government to improve law and order, and curb terrorism.
The prime minister said his government is determined to lift the country out of morass it finds itself in after years of neglect and mismanagement and will bring the hard-working Pakistanis much-deserved economic progress. He was addressing a large gathering of Pakistani-Americans at a reception hosted in his honour by the Consulate General of Pakistan in New York. Amidst resounding applause, the prime minister said he and his party had weathered some very difficult times but had now been returned to power through ballot.
“Every Pakistani should be proud of the unprecedented transfer of democratic power that has recently taken place in Pakistan,” he said. The wrongs done to the country under dictatorial rule would be fixed and the government has drawn an elaborate plan to step up economic development through a series of projects in infrastructure, energy, educational fields, and intra-regional economic corridor, he added.
“We are determined to face off the challenges, which are big and difficult, as they have accumulated over the years. We have to improve the law and order, we have to curb terrorism – for which we will hold dialogue as the priority way; improved security environment will help bring investment in to the country and bolster growth,” Prime Minister Nawaz said. He said the motorway project would be completed right up to Karachi, dams would be built to overcome nagging blackouts and provide smooth supply of power to the industries that would open up jobs.
He cited his interaction with the Chinese and Turkish leaders and said economic corridor from Khunjrab to Gwadar and then establishment of road linkage between Pakistan, Kabul and Central Asian countries onward would help spur trade and economic activity in the country. The government also intends to connect Abbottabad and Islamabad through a tunnel, he added. “I know we will have to arrange finances for these projects but we will be steadfast in pursuit of our development plans,” he said. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk