President Pervez Musharraf speaking in a public meeting on the occasion of inaugural of Dual carriageway Lahore-Sheikupura-Faisalabad at Sheikupura on Saturday has underlined the importance of fight against terrorism and has called upon the nation to play its role against this threat.
The dual carriageway inaugurated by the President during his visit to Sheikupura with a cost of Rs 6.10 billion and was completed in September 2006, much earlier than its envisaged completion date of March 2007. The carriageway starts from Begum Kot about 6-km away from Shahdara and ends at Gutwala near Faisalabad. The road is part of Punjab highway road network.
Speaking on terrorism, the President said the nation had seen one face of it in Dargai where 40 soldiers were martyred at the hands of terrorists. He said people who were fighting against terrorism were responsible in their work and do not act in irresponsible way.
He said he had himself seen a movie of the bombarded place and said that there was no small age person in this terrorist training outfit. He pointed that people who were are propagating that young children had died there were telling a lie.
The President said what certain elements were preaching and doing in the name of Islam was farce. He said that suicide is forbidden in Islam.
Talking in this regard, he said it was unfortunate that these elements that have one-way approach on the religion do not accept others as true Muslims. He quoting his religious firmness of belief stated that he had visited Kaaba Shrif six times. He said he had been blessed with entry into Rauza-e-Rasool seven times and that is an ample proof of kindness that God had bestowed upon him, he added.
President Musharraf asked the masses to elect people with vision and enlightenment in next elections as it was necessary to achieve the mission of Quad-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal this way.
He appreciated Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi for his endeavours in developing the province. Musharraf averring on state of economic affairs in the country said there had been a decrease in the level of poverty and unemployment in the country. He, however, stressed that there was yet a need to do much more for correcting further this scenario.
He said as wheel of development was moving forward, it was imperative that benefits accruing from it were passed on to masses. He said it was the responsibility of the government to do so. President Musharraf dilating upon priorities of development stated that besides focusing on development in the field of electricity and gas, the government would spend Rs 7 billion on establishing filtration plants of water in the country. He said it was his promise to the nation to provide clean water and he would fulfil his promise in this regard.
Speaking about the carriage-way project, he said it would pave the way for development in the area, saying an industrial zone with a cost of Rs 6 billion would be constructed in Ferozwala. Talking further of development of the area, he said a university in collaboration with Germany involving expenditure of Rs 20 billion would be set up in Ferozwala. He said this university would be functional in 2007-08, adding that nine new modern universities are to be built in the country.
The President said he would inaugurate Mirani dam next year. Stating about other development endeavours, including Gwadar Port, power production units, cement plants, he said Pakistan was making great stride in development.
Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pevaiz Elahi addressing the public meeting thanked President Musharraf for providing record finances for the uplift of the province. He said provincial government was playing a vital role in promoting industrial uplift. He said besides Sundar Industrial scheme, other such schemes would be undertaken.
He told the local audience of making dual-carriage way from Faiz to Mangtawala. He said provincial government was spending Rs 200 million on improving water and sewerage situation in Sheikupura. The provincial government had provided one million jobs in the province during last two years, he added.
Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool addressing on the occasion appreciated the role of armed forces in the service of the country and said that they had shown exemplary behaviour in this regard since very inception of the country. He said President Musharraf while making great endeavours in development of the country had raised the image of the country in comity of nations.