'Geo-strategic location can be developed as trade and energy corridor'

President Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday said that the key to the country's future and way forward is sustained economic growth and control of extremism. He made these remarks while speaking to the participants of National Defence Course and Armed Forces War Course here at the National Defence University on Wednesday.
The President said that it is the economic stability and its upsurge that needs to be maintained for any kind of influence on security and other issues of national importance. He said that Pakistan has a geo-strategic relevance, which cannot be undermined. However, the geo-strategic location of Pakistan can be developed as a trade and energy corridor, which will provide more leverage to Pakistan geo-politically, he added.
While emphasising the role of media in image building of Pakistan, he said that media should project world-wide the economic rise and potential of Pakistan. The President who dwelt at length on various issues related to national security said that over the last five years, Pakistan has gained economic strength and it must continue the upsurge in that direction.
Emphasising on energy security imperatives, the President said that our economic growth must match the progress in energy sector so as to maintain a good balance between them. He also highlighted the importance of food security in view of an overall stress on food commodities world over. The President said, "we must concentrate on progress in education, health and poverty alleviation as these are the key elements for progress of any nation."
Talking about the national security, the President said that "Pakistan's Minimum Deterrence Strategy is must for peace: we shall never compromise on our nuclear programme." He said, "it is the weakness which invites aggression; peace can only be ensured from a position of strength." He said that the nation must join hands together to eliminate the scourge of extremism and terrorism.
The President in his address to the participants appreciated their efforts for making the exercise a success. The senior civil and military leadership attended the Exercise 'Marka-e-Baqa', which is the high-mark of the course at National Defence University. The participants of the course presented National Security Policies. The exercise will continue for 2-3 weeks.