Alvi congratulates nation on 25th Youm-e-Takbeer

Calls for investing in intellectual development, strengthening cyber security

ISLAMABAD:

Congratulating the country on the silver jubilee of Youm-e-Takbeer, President Dr Arif Alvi said conducting nuclear tests in response to India doing the same was essential for maintaining the balance of power in the region.

In a statement issued on the eve of May 28th, Dr Alvi said the achievement of nuclear capability was indeed a remarkable feat and for this, our scientists, engineers, political and military leadership of the time deserve high commendation.

On this day, the whole nation pays tribute to the contributions of our eminent engineers and scientists who made Pakistan a nuclear power within a short period of time, said Alvi, adding that the country must appreciate our political and military leadership that took wise decisions at that time to achieve nuclear capability making defense of the country unassailable.

“For this, our whole nation is indebted to all those who played their part in making Pakistan the 1st Islamic nuclear power.”

“On this day, let us pledge to make Pakistan a stronger country by investing in the intellectual development of our people and strengthening our cyber security to ensure our defense. I am hopeful that with our collective efforts, we would be able to make Pakistan's defence impregnable. May Allah be our guide and supporter. Ameen!” said Alvi.

‘Unity Real Message of Youm-e-Takbeer’

Meanwhile, congratulating the nation on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the country’s nuclear blasts, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged the people to forge unity to make the country an economic power.

In his message on the eve of Youm-e-Takbeer Shehbaz paid rich tributes to all those involved in making the country’s defence impregnable by successfully conducting five nuclear tests in response to India's nuclear explosions.

“I salute the then prime minister and my leader Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, who made Pakistan the first nuclear power in the Islamic world and the seventh nuclear power in the world by making the national defence impregnable,” he said.

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Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz said, only trusted in the power of Almighty Allah and defied the threats of superpower, adding that the offers of billions of dollars also could not deter him from his iron determination.

Shehbaz also paid tributes late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the founder of Pakistan’s nuclear programme and late Benazir Bhutto, who as the leader of opposition at that time, supported the government’s decision of nuclear blasts.

There were political tensions in those days but the late Benazir Bhutto shunned all the differences for the sake of the country, he said. “This is the real message of this day. When it comes to Pakistan, our political differences, interests and divisions disappear.”

“I salute all the heroes of Pakistan's nuclear programme, including the late Dr Abdul Qadir Khan, scientists, engineers, workers and all those who have been a part of it in any form,” the prime minister added.

Shehbaz also praised all the friendly countries, especially the leadership of Saudi Arabia, who supported Pakistan regardless of international pressure. “The Pakistani nation can never forget their support,” he added.

“The lesson of today is that the nation can face any difficulty with unity. On May 28, 1998 the whole world was on one side, there was pressure, threats but the leadership of the country made the impossible possible,” the prime minister said.

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“The unity of the nation is the real power. On this auspicious day, I also want to express this great desire of my heart that we have to make Pakistan an economic power now but for this we need the same unity, determination, focus and continuity,” he added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistani soldiers had rendered excellent services in the UN Peacekeeping, including the sacrifice of life in the most complex and dangerous conflict zones.
In a tweet, Shehbaz said as eight Pakistani peacekeepers were honoured posthumously on the completion of 75 years of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission, Pakistan was proud of being one of the largest contributors to the peace missions in the world.