Shaukat terms strong navy bulwark against India's hegemonic designs
07 March, 2005
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| KARACHI: Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz addressing at the ground breaking ceremony of KICT Phase-III at Karachi Port. |
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KARACHI, March 08 (Online): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has reiterated that a strong and vigilant navy is need of the country to foil hegemonic designs of any country in Indian Ocean.
He was addressing inauguration ceremony of annual exercises by Pakistan Navy here in PNS Jauhar auditorium Monday. He said that government would utilise all possible resources to safeguard territorial waters and face the related challenges.
He observed that Pakistan Navy would have to be equipped with modern technology. Such exercises help evolve future defence strategy. " Our ports are doorway to the country and luckily they are located on the vital route of oil shipment. We want to transform Gwadar into a major port which will serve as hub of trade for Afghanistan, Central Asian Republics and western China", he remarked.
Earlier the Prime Minister was received by Naval Chief Admiral Shahid Karim Ullah when he arrived Jauhar auditorium. Deputy chief of Naval staff operations Rear Admiral Iftikhar Ahmad briefed the Prime Minister in details on exercises.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that next 25 years national development strategy had been evolved, saying Pakistan was no longer in need of aid.
"We have outlined 25 years modalities for national development and if the strategy is pursued Pakistan will be from among the developed countries," the Prime Minister expressed these views here Monday while inaugurating the 3rd Phase of Karachi International Container Terminal.
Owing to the strategy he said Pakistan would be able to meet mammoth challenges within next five years saying the challenges included Water, Energy, Infrastructure, Human Capital and other reforms.
He predicted that during the forthcoming five years Pakistan would face the growing needs of potable water, water for irrigation, construction of new roads and revamping of old ones, better Railways system, better communication system and trained manpower, which would go a long way to jack-up national progress with a boom in economic sector.
He went on to say that natural gas would be supplied from other countries so as to tackle the issue of gas shortage in the country.
"No country in the world can move towards progress and it will have to depend on ports for accelerated progress," he said, adding that Pakistan was a fortunate country which had three ports that's why Pakistan had enjoyed a geo-strategic location among the comity of nations.
"The government believes on free trade and open economy and our government is all set to bring down export tariff," he remarked, adding that Pakistan export duty would be reduced to 25 percent.
He noted that tariff rate would be reduced to compete other regional states, however logistic infrastructure would be increased during the next five years.
"Due to dilapidated roads condition it takes seven days for goods to reach Islamabad from Karachi, which, he said was wastage of time and money.
He reiterated that government would had decided to revamp roads, ports, airports, Railways system for better national infrastructure so that manufacturers should get door-to-door service.
The government was serious to provide infrastructure and containers scanners had been already set up at port for early clearing of goods.
Lauding the signing of accord between Karachi International Container Terminal and KPT, he said that the agreement was a good example of joint venture between public and private sector.
He stressed that other parties should come forward and help government in development project by joint venture.
Federal Minister for Port and Shipping Babur Ghauri, Chairman KPT Ahmad Hayyat and chairman KICT Khurram Abbas also spoke on the occasion.
Meanwhile presiding over a high level meeting here Monday, the Prime Minister directed the concerned authority to maintain law and order.
He lauded the provincial government for maintaining law and order during Muharram-ul-Harram.
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