Stabilising economy, containing militancy: World must step up support for Pakistan's efforts, says Zardari

The Government of Pakistan is making concert endeavours to stabilise its economy and contain militancy but the world powers must step up their support, as the democratic government is confronting with the critical challenges, President Asif Ali Zardari says in an article published in the Foreign Affairs magazine.
In the article, which highlights Pakistan's immense economic potential as well as it's centrality to regional stability, the president reaffirms his resolve to get rid of violent extremism and bring the people long-denied economic uplift.
"Since taking office, my government has achieved tangible results during our first year in the office. But this is just a start; we have a long way to go," he says in the article, which, published in January-February issue of the magazine, cites Pakistan's impressive performance in arresting inflation and improvement in macro-economic indicators.
Reminding the country's international allies of the massiveness of the challenges that confronted the country at the time of democratic government's inception in early 2008, President Zardari said, "The democratic government on assuming power inherited a huge portfolio of challenges --Pakistan was facing political economic and a social crises and both had to be addressed."
The writing entitled, "Pakistan Regained - Leadership for Progress" notes that country is paying a heavy price for its border with Afghanistan with terrorist bombings and militant insurgency and loss of thousands of lives. Up to 2.5 million displaced following action against militants in the north-western areas drove the direct cost of the conflict to an estimated $45 billion. President Zardari's government, the article says, has responded to the challenge with wide-ranging reform and decisive military action that have stabilised the county and brought new legitimacy to the state.