'Pakistan on path of progress'

Says country has independent judiciary, maturing parliament and vibrant army

KARACHI: "Pakistan has a bright future," Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat on Tuesday reiterated about half a dozen times during his 40-minute speech as a chief guest at "The Future Summit: Innovating for Future," on Tuesday.

The country has a strong and an independent judiciary, maturing parliament and vibrant armed forces. "People are having high hopes for a progressive, forward looking, non-sectarian approach to our national discourse and politics," he said. "Pakistan has been set on the progress path dreamed by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal," he said.

He said the judiciary is setting unprecedented standards of accountability and protection of public interests. Parliament is fast getting towards potential maturity. And armed forces have turned tides in the war against terrorism which is the only example in the modern history.

Pakistan's nuclear capability helps it maintaining minimum deterrence against any potential aggression and military adventure. "This is our strategic asset, which provides security to the future of Pakistan," he said.

Besides, the nuclear capability is not only about security. Investment in nuclear infrastructure can also help reduce the power crisis in Pakistan.  In 2017, it accounted for about 6.2% nuclear power in the total energy mix.

“At present, five nuclear power plants are in operation in the country which are having a total installed capacity of over 1,400 megawatts. Two more reactors are under construction near Karachi,” he said. By 2030, he said, Pakistan will increase its nuclear power production capacity to 8,800 megawatts.

"Nuclear power technology infrastructure and related domestic workforce is poised to support expansions of states," he said.  The US policies regarding the region and China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) both have increased the scale of opportunity for Pakistan to grow, he said.