PHOTO: RASHID AJMERI
KARACHI:
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said his government would free the country’s financial hub Karachi from the stranglehold of crime and militants and usher in an era of enduring peace.
The ongoing operation in Karachi, the prime minister said, would not be left half-way and would continue till its logical end. As part of its dedicated struggle against militancy, the government is already taking concrete steps to knit one large constituency of peace enveloping the country.
“We are determined that the power of gun would rest with the government, and not with militants,” he added. The premier vowed that the metropolis would soon be rid of major crimes, including kidnapping-for-ransom.
Turning his attention to challenges in other parts of the country, PM Nawaz said Operation Zarb-e-Azb was being successfully carried out in North Waziristan Agency. This operation, according to him, should have been taken earlier. Peace in the country guarantees economic revival and prosperity, he said.
While addressing the inaugural ceremony of the ninth edition of the Expo Pakistan 2015 in Karachi, PM Nawaz said that Pakistan was successfully countering what he called “spillover security challenges”.
Speaking about the chronic energy shortage, he said Pakistan would overcome its energy crisis by the end of 2017, recounting how the country has swiftly been brought back to normalcy. PM Nawaz said his government was committed to make Pakistan the preferred destination for business and hoped in next three years the country’s exports would rise to $50 billion, adding that Pakistan was a land of business opportunities.
“We offer our foreign buyers a very competitive sourcing option. The captains of our industry have carved out their niche in the world market due to their production efficiencies and business ethics,” he pointed out.
“I and my team are actively engaged to bring in long term reforms in socio-economic sectors of Pakistan,” he affirmed.
The premier said owing to consistent efforts, his government has succeeded in enhancing Pakistan’s exports to its highest-ever turnover of over $25 billion during the fiscal year 2013-14.
He also urged businessmen to set up industrial units in Pakistan and benefit from the investment-friendly environment in the country.
As an incentive to adding profitability to business ventures, Pakistan has effectively negotiated the bilateral, multilateral and pluri-lateral trading arrangements with many regions and countries in the world, enabling its products to enter the foreign markets at lower tariffs.
In this regard he mentioned the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (Safta) that was in operation and aimed at liberalising trade with its South Asian neighbours. Bilateral free trade agreements with China, Sri Lanka and Malaysia already exist, he added.
“We have also entered into Preferential Trading Arrangements with Iran, Mauritius, Indonesia and similar arrangements with D-8 countries have been finalized,” he said.
“I would specially mention here the opportunity of zero rated market access to our biggest export market of European Union under GSP Plus scheme,” the prime minister told the investors.
‘Protecting sovereignty and integrity’
The prime minister said that the democratic government would protect the country’s sovereignty and integrity at all costs. He made the remark while addressing the ‘Colour Award and Re-equipment Ceremony of Karakoram Eagle AWACS Aircraft’ at PAF Masroor Base.
Induction of Karakoram Eagle AWACS will revolutionise PAF’s operational concepts, he affirmed, adding that with its induction, PAF was transforming into a modern versatile and capability based force.
The premier said re-equipping the No.4 Squadron with this state of the art aircraft would enable PAF to effectively counter all threats against Pakistan’s aerial frontiers and add a new dimension to the national security.
Zonal committees in Sindh
The Sindh government has expressed its reservation over the division of the province in three zonal committees to execute the National Action Plan (NAP).
These committees constituted in Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur divisions are supposed to work under the supervision of DG Rangers and two General Commanding Officer (GOS) in Sindh.
Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has opposed this decision during a meeting with the prime minister.
Visiting Bhagwandas family
PM Nawaz visited the residence of the late jurist Rana Bhagwandas, former chief justice of the Supreme Court, and offered condolences to the bereaved family. He lauded the services rendered by justice Bhagwandas in the dispensation of democracy and justice.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 27th, 2015.
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