Fight against militancy: Pakistan suffers loss of billions of dollars, says Naek

Chairman Senate Farooq H-Naek has said that no other country in the world has borne the brunt of the bloodthirsty wave of terrorism and destruction, but Pakistan has lost hundreds of innocent civilians as well as valiant personnel of law enforcement agencies and sustained losses of billions of dollars to infrastructure and economy in its quest and desire to banish militancy and terrorism.
He said this as a chief guest while addressing the convocation of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST) here on Saturday. He stated our brave leader Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto also laid down her life. Naek said that today the nation backs government's action against terrorism and our message to terrorists is clear and unequivocal that we would not allow our territory to be used by the terrorists and we would not be daunted by the threat.
On the occasion, the Senate Chairman also congratulated the graduating students. He asked them to move forward and utilise their abilities to serve the nation and uphold the dignity and honour of the country in the world. The Chancellor of SZABIST, Dr Azra Fazal, said that in a short span of 15 years, the institution has emerged as the leading institute in business studies and has successfully passed out 3,000 students who have assumed prominent positions in various positions.
She stated that some of the students have obtained prestigious scholarships abroad including those of Rhodes, Chevinings, Cambridge Trust and commonwealth etc. Dr Azra pointed out that education is an important investment for human and economic development.
She said that SZABIST as envisioned by the founding Chancellor of the institution Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, is also evolving and changing ethos. President of SZABIST, Dr Izhar ul Haq, said that in today's convocation degrees are being conferred to 588 graduates in various disciplines.
He said that SZABIST has four campuses, one each in Karachi, Islamabad, Larkana and in Dubai. Dr Shams Kassim Lakha, chief of the Pakistan Centre of Philanthropy, presented the keynote address. The convocation ceremony was also attended by the Federal Minister, Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah.