Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Saturday Pakistan did not favour arms race in the region as arms race was no solution to the problems. "Pakistan is a peace loving nation. Arms purchases will not reduce poverty in South Asia," the Prime Minister told reporters when he was asked to comment on the India-US defence deal.
Pakistan, he said would get anything required for its defence but would not join any arms race. He said his government was aware of its defence needs.
"Pakistan is interested that resources must be used for education, health and infrastructure development in South Asia for the betterment of the masses".
He, however, said Pakistan had been and would continue to strengthen its defence as peace could be achieved through strength not weakness. He said it was the endeavour of government to ensure a credible defence for the country.
Earlier, the Prime Minister inaugurated Water Quality Laboratories of Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources. He said government has launched Khushaal Pakistan Programme so that fruits of economic development could directly reach to the masses.
He said under the programme emphasis was being laid on provision of clean drinking water, electricity, gas, construction of roads and improvement of sewerage system.
He said water filtration plants would be established at Union Council level and their water samples would be tested every year. He said the government has launched two and half billion rupees programme for treatment of Hepatitis. He pointed out an awareness programme has also been launched to highlight the importance of clean drinking water.
Later, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz inaugurated a public drinking water filtration plant in the capital. Speaking on the occasion, he assured that life standard of people would be raised by providing them basic necessities of life, so that not only Pakistan would be a developed state but they would be able to fulfill the dreams of the Father of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
He said under the Khushaal Pakistan Programme priority has been given to four sectors including clean drinking water, electricity, and gas and roads facilities.
Shaukat Aziz announced that 6,000 such filtration plants would be set up throughout the country in the next three years. Each union council would have a filtration plant where that programme would cost Rs 10 billion. He said Rs two and half billion would be spent during current financial year to control Hepatitis disease. He said from today a campaign has been launched through media to create awareness about the importance of clean water.
The Prime Minister said that till 2008 each village of the country would be electrified. He further said that during last financial year 250,000 gas connections were provided to new customers whereas during current financial year that number would be increased. He said during current financial year a record allocation of Rs 300 billion would be spent on social sector development programme in the country.
In addition to these facilities, the government was focusing to improve education, health, police, and judiciary system and to control the prices of daily use items.
About the prices of oil the Prime Minister said in the international market its price has gone up to 60 dollars. During last year the government provided Rs 60 billion subsidy to the people. He said still the oil prices were 20 to 30 per cent less than that of our neighbouring countries.
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