President General Pervez Musharraf has rejected negative travel advisories against Pakistan, asserting the country has a far improved and conducive environment for economic development than commonly misperceived abroad.
"Quite contrary to misperceptions about law and order, Pakistan has a much better environment, there has not been a terrorist attack for one-and-a-half year," he said in an interview telecast by a private TV channel. However, the president said that there have been some sectarian incidents, adding that they are now under control.
"So misperception of law and order, which give rise to negative travel advisories, are misplaced." President Musharraf particularly pointed out congenial environment in Karachi and said people feel safe and secure while visiting its beaches late into night. He described Pakistan's economic turnaround under his government as his greatest achievement. "Because economy is at the core of development of a country and Pakistan has come a long way since 1999, when it was on the verge of economic default.
"Now we can focus on human resource development of our people, improve education and health and stem poverty," he said. To a question, the president said that women in Pakistan are more emancipated than in some of the advanced democracies, adding that that they have joined the education sector in a big way and also making their way into Air Force.
During the interview President Musharraf and First Lady Begum Sehba Musharraf candidly shared their views on a host of subjects.
They described strong family bonds as a strong forte of Pakistani society. In this context, the president referred to the October 8 earthquake and said that the people rendered homeless in the catastrophe are welcomed by their relatives.
To a question about his childhood in Turkey, President Musharraf said his stay there broadened his vision and said Turkey could serve as an excellent bridge between the Muslims and the West.
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