President General Pervez Musharraf has said that extremism and terrorism is a serious threat to the country and warned the foreign terrorists, still hiding in the Tribal areas to leave immediately or face stern action.
He was addressing a public gathering near Larkana on Wednesday after performing the groundbreaking ceremony of a bridge linking Larkana with Khairpur. President Musharraf said those foreign terrorists still hiding in the mountainous region of the Tribal Areas must leave the country immediately as "these terrorists cannot be tolerated on our soil."
He reiterated the government's resolve to deal with terrorists with full force as they were endangering the country. He said extremism could seriously hamper Pakistan's continued march on the path of socio-economic development and vowed the extremists would not be allowed to hamper its progress.
The president urged the people to help identify the extremist elements and assist the government in combating the terrorists. On socio-economic development of the country, President Musharraf said in the past six years a series of mega development projects had been initiated in the country, including a network of roads.
He said the real essence of democracy had been introduced in the country and people had been politically and economically empowered at the grassroots level through local government system and the minorities and the women had also been granted their due rights.
The president said 2007 was election year and called upon the people to come out in large number and exercise their right to vote for those who stand for socio-economic development and continuity of economic policies in the country.
He strongly urged the people to reject extremist elements in the forthcoming general elections as these people were retrogressive and anti development. He said that for country's continued march on the path of economic progress, such elements would have to be discarded in the elections.
Musharraf re-emphasised that for the overall development of the country, new water reservoirs would have to be constructed and said that the people of Sindh stand to gain most from the new dams as water would be available sufficiently to the tale-enders. He said this would give boost to the agriculture of the province and bring prosperity to the people of Sindh.
President Musharraf said that those less-developed areas, which suffered neglect during the past successive governments were now being focused for fast track uplift.
He said this would be possible now as the economy was strong and substantial funds were available for new projects. He said industry was running at full capacity and new units were being set up providing more job opportunities.
He said this would immensely benefit the poor of the country. He said various schemes had been launched to provide jobs and reduce poverty in the country.
He said the unemployed educated youth with Masters degrees would be provided jobs in government departments with a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000. Under Rozgar Pakistan Scheme the youth would be provided Rs 15,000 to 100,000 for starting their businesses.
On price hike and inflation, the president said the government had been directed to take steps to check inflationary trends and bring the prices of eatables down for the benefit of the people.
He said the mobile utility stores were being introduced to provide food items to the people on reduced rates.
The president announced a number of development projects for Larkana. He said the bridge between Khairpur and Larkana would help reduce the distance to half after its completion.
He said eight more such bridges would be constructed connecting the right and left banks of Indus River to facilitate the people and open up the neglected areas to economic development.
The president also announced that 200 kilometer long between Sehwan and Ratto Dero would be dualised at a cost of Rs 12 billion. He said the National Highway would be upgraded and six lanes would be constructed for the Super Highway.
The president said that Larkana-Hyderabad, Larkana-Karachi and Larkana-Jacobabad would be constructed. Musharraf also announced Rs 100 million each for Larkana and Khairpur for small development projects.
He said the better facilities would be provided at Chandka Medical College and modern cardio and neuro departments would be set up at the hospital and quality of education at this college would be improved.
The president said that the medical facilities especially at basic health units would also be improved in Larkana and Khairpur.
Responding to a demand by the area people, the president said gas would be provided at tehsil level of these two districts and all the villages falling on the route would also be provided with this facility.
Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim speaking on the occasion said that the past leadership coming from Sindh had neglected the province. He said due to their neglect the province was left behind in every field.
He said President Musharraf had initiated several mega development projects in the province and was fully committed to bring the less-developed parts of Sindh at par with the developed one of the country. District Nazim Larkana also spoke on the occasion.
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