Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said here on Friday that Pakistan Navy would be provided resources for frigates, submarines and airborne surveillance system.
Talking to reporters after the 85th Midshipmen Commissioning parade of Pakistan Naval Academy, he highlighted the significant role of Pakistan Navy towards the defence of the country and its role to safeguard maritime interests.
The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over the performance of Pakistan Navy and said that PN would be provided all possible resources.
The Prime Minister said new frigates were being acquired from China and Europe.
He said that Pakistan was building submarines with French assistance, and the work on the third 'Agosta' would be completed soon.
"We are focusing on Naval facilities on ground, water and air so that PN is modernised and made effective with adequate firepower, and defensive and offensive capability," he said, and added that "Pakistan is a peace-loving country and wants to live in peace" with all.
Shaukat said that Pakistan has acquired enough technical skills to build submarines and can market the same at a later stage.
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir, was also present on the occasion.
The Prime Minister said: "Our vision for national security is embedded in economic sovereignty, in all-inclusive impregnable defence, smooth political process, internal stability, good governance and a friendlier international environment to protect Pakistan's integrity solidarity, its citizens and its interests, both at home and abroad.
"While we do not have aggressive designs against any state, we recognise that peace is achieved through strength, not weakness. As a responsible nuclear weapon state, we adhere to the doctrine of minimum credible deterrence. We are opposed to a strategic arms race in the region as well as domination of the Indian Ocean by any country, and seek a strategic restraint regime which we have repeatedly offered since 1998."
He said: "Our goal and the goal of this generation is the same; we will secure our nation and defend the peace through these principles.
"Alhamdolillah, our strategic capability is sufficient to meet the current and future challenges."
The Prime Minister said: "We believe that a durable peace and stability in South Asia requires a just settlement of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
"For this to happen, all of us need to demonstrate courage, flexibility, magnanimity and, above all, a passion for a solution. It will allow us to redirect our resources for improving the quality of life of our people."
Shaukat pointed out that the Pakistan of today and tomorrow was not the Pakistan of yesterday. "Today, ours is a strong and stable country of 160 million people, endowed with rich human and material resources, which is well entrenched on the path of progress and prosperity. We must recognise that we have to depend on ourselves to change our destiny."
He said: "Third Millennium is a challenging time for all of us. Let us face these challenges with courage, unity and commitment. Now as never before Pakistan needs people who aspire to lead and to serve.
"To those assembled on parade here today, we look to you as highly trained and motivated men to play a dynamic role in leading the naval force in the 21st century- a century in which we endeavour and pray for peace, but must be on our guard to defend the beloved country, Pakistan."
He expressed optimism that "we will, Insha Allah, build a smarter, peaceful, more vibrant, developed and progressive Pakistan and occupy our true position in the comity of nations."
Earlier, the Prime Minister reviewed the 85th Midshipmen Commissioning parade.
The Prime Minister told the passing out Midshipmen that "our success in these environment will largely depend upon our leadership", sustained hard work and the quest to aim for excellence. Nations who do not keep pace with modern-day developments as well as technological advancement and measure up to current challenges are destined to be left behind.
"As the proud defender of our maritime frontiers, it is required of you to live up to the expectations of the nation. You need to remain abreast of the technological advancement in your respective fields of specialties and achieve high standards of professionalism.
" You must recognise that over the long run your success depends on moving forward towards self-reliance and maintaining excellence in your core competence of integrating operations, bringing technology to war and developing equipment. At the same time, we need to develop persistent surveillance, the ability to deny our enemies a sanctuary in which they can hide we must leverage the inherent strengths of technology, our indigenous capability, and skills. We should bring it all together.
"Our indigenous capability must meet the challenges of selective denial of technology and discriminatory treatment."
Shaukat said that the construction of Agosta submarines and transfer of technology for frigates were steps in this direction.
He said: "On our part, the government will do whatever it takes within the available resources to enable our Navy to maintain and sustain the sanctity of our coastline, protect our maritime interests, deliver on our international commitments and to face all challenges--present and future."
The Prime Minister declared: "We will continue to extend our co-operation in training the officers of our brotherly Muslim and neighbouring countries."
He said that Pakistan Navy's participation in the 'Coalition Maritime Campaign Plan' had ensured not only Pakistan's visible sustained presence in the area of interest but also has provided a safe environment to facilitate maritime economic activity and has also reaffirmed the country's strong commitment to regional and global security.
Shaukat said that entrusting the onerous command of the 'Coalition Task Force' to Pakistan Navy in April this year reflected recognition of Pakistan Navy's capability, capacity and professionalism in pursuing global war on-terrorism at sea.
He stated that with the evolving globalisation, geo-economics is fast replacing geo-politics and economic considerations were taking precedence sometimes over political calculations. "Economic strength provides room for manoeuvrability on various fronts--military, political and diplomatic.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan's economic philosophy and wide-ranging structural reforms have started yielding results, accelerating growth, generating employment and improving service delivery. "On political front, we are strengthening democratic values and institutions, empowering the people at grass-roots level. We are now focusing on ensuring security in the area of energy, water and food to remain competitive in the international marketplace and to transform our economic progress into meaningful gain for our people."
The Prime Minister also distributed prizes among the winning Midshipmen.
The best all-round S/Lieutenant throughout training and winner of the Quaid-i-Azam Gold Medal was S/Lieutenant Raja Imran Sikandar.
The winner of the Chief of the Naval Staff Gold medal was S/Lieutenant Imran Afzal.
The best all-round cadet and winner of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gold Medal was Cadet Shahab Hussain Khan.
The best all-round Midshipman and winner of the 'Sword of Honour' was Midshipman Abdullah Naveed. The Commandant of the PNA, Commodore Asif Saleem, also addressed the gathering.
The Midshipmen Commissioning Parade was also witnessed by Sindh governor Ishratul Ebad Khan, Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Ministers, senior naval officers, members of diplomatic corps and relatives and parents of the commissioning Midshipmen.
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