Armed Forces of Pakistan are symbol of national integration, says Musharraf
23 June, 2007
LAHORE: President General Pervez Musharraf has said that Armed Forces of Pakistan are symbol of national integration and progress and prosperity of the country depends on integrity, unity and harmony of this vital institution. He was addressing the officers of Lahore Garrison at the Corps Headquarters Auditorium on Friday which lasted for two hours attended by over 500 officers from Army, Navy and Air Force stationed at Lahore. Apart from a large number of officers of Lahore Garrison, prominent among those who attended included Corps Commander, Lieutenant General Shafaat Ullah Shah, General Offices Commanding, Major General Shaukat Sultan Khan, Major General Raheel Sharif, Director General Pakistan Rangers Punjab, Major General Hussain Mehdi and Director General NAB Lahore, Major General Qsim Qureshi. Irrespective of peace initiative to encourage stability in the region, he said, “we are fully conscious of our security needs and making all out efforts to maintain impregnable defence of the country.” We do not foster any offensive designs against any country but induction of latest arms and equipment in the Armed Formed is our right to ensure détente for peaceful co-existence, he added. President General Musharraf said that Pakistan has a tremendous potential to rise as a progressive and moderate Islamic country among the comity of nations. He warned that obscurantist and extremist elements are a major impediment in the way of achieving economic progress and development. He criticised rumor mongers who are spreading demoralization and despondency among the general public to fulfill their self serving agenda and advised them to act with responsibility as the country is passing through the most crucial phase of its history. President General Musharraf said that Pakistan has come to stay and “God willing we shall preserve and succeed to rise in the comity of nations”. Talking about the efforts to curb current security threats within the country, the president said that the efforts are being made to ensure consolidation and re-organisation of the paramilitary forces. He said that more emphasis is being laid to equip them better weapons and extensive training facilities to control the menace of militancy in the tribal areas of NWFP. Talking about a various economic reforms of the present government, the president said that current GDP growth in the country is rated as one of the best in the world. He said the government is spending a lot of funds on improving infrastructure that include railways, roads, airports and seaports. He said that an appropriate strategy has also been evolved to improve quality of life of the common man and encourage prosperity for which the areas of emphasis remained health, education, poverty alleviation and employment. He made a special mention of the Lahore Crops for doing a great national service by establishing a Polytechnic Institute for imparting technical education to unskilled labor of the country.
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