President General Pervez Musharraf on Friday said the government is resolved to benefit the people of far-flung areas with the fruits of economic development and bring them at par with developed parts of the country. Addressing a gathering of elders here, the President said the country has been steered to a stable economic state as a result of consistently pursued policies and reforms and now the government is focused on realising socio-economic development at the grass roots level.
"We are concentrating on bringing about a qualitative change in the lives, of people and our efforts are geared to enable the people of far-off areas to achieve socio-economic progress through a series of development projects," he stated.
He announced that the work on Lowari Tunnel project would commence in October and it would be completed expeditiously to facilitate transportation and communication between Chitral and other parts of the country.
The President informed the gathering that Pakistan has named in international stature due to its policies and the country has the potential to lead efforts for the development and well being of the Muslim world.
"Pakistan has strengthened its economic and defence pillars," he said but added that the country would have to counter extremism through concerted efforts from all segments of the society.
"We have to demonstrate with our actions that Pakistan is a moderate Islamic country - we will have to forge unity in our ranks and progress by developing our human, capital and making use of vast natural resources," he said.
Minister of State for Water and Power Amir Muqam also addressed the gathering and paid tributes to the President for putting Pakistan on the path of sustainable progress.
Earlier, NWFP Governor Khalil-ur-Rehman, Federal Minister for Tourism Dr Ghazi Gulab Jamal, Minister of State for Water and Power, received the President warmly on arrival.