Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday said Pakistan seeks peace through strength in South Asia and will never compromise on its nuclear programme or its minimum deterrence needs.
Speaking here at the handing over of the final production batch of Hatf-III Ghaznavi missiles to Army Strategic Force Command (ASFC) at a ceremony, the prime minister assured that Pakistan's nuclear program will move ahead.
"Let me assure you that no one can roll back this program. This program will keep moving, developing and improving with latest technology available in the world."
He said Pakistan was a responsible country and its nuclear program was in safe and responsible hands, adding: "Inshallah, this program will develop and move forward."
The prime minister said Pakistan was a declared and fully established nuclear power with its minimum deterrence needs successfully achieved and its capability operationalized through a variety of delivery means.
"For our future, we have to build a credible defence that is essential for Pakistan to prosper and flourish," he said, adding that country's defence was under a strict command and control system. Indigenously produced Hatf-III Ghaznavi Ballistic Missiles, with a range of 290-km, were taken over by the Second Missile Group of Pakistan Army's Strategic Force Command.
The solid fuel Ghaznavi Ballistic Missile System was successfully fired as part of a training exercise in December last year by troops of ASFC. It now forms an integral component of Pakistan's strategic land delivery system, which also includes the Shaheen series and the Ghauri Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles. Shaukat Aziz congratulated the scientists, engineers and staff associated with the manufacturing of Ghaznavi Missile System, on successful completion of their mission in a record time.
He said the nation was stronger today due to such accomplishment and urged it to continue hard work in pursuit of even greater achievement. The prime minister said Pakistan's nuclear programme was a success story without a parallel in history.
He said his government was fully committed to providing all requisite resources to achieve the goal of consolidating the objective of Credible Minimum Deterrence and reiterated that there would never be a compromise on country's strategic programme.
"As a fully established and internationally accepted nuclear power, we should have confidence in our capabilities commensurate with our status; that no one in the world can cast an evil eye on our nuclear capability or on our sovereignty," he said.
The prime minister said Pakistan has tremendous assets and human capital that are second to none. He said Pakistan needs strong diplomacy, security, law and order, defence and economy and a vibrant political system all critical for Pakistan to achieve its full potential.
"Proud nations are never afraid of challenges and we will never bow before any other force except Almighty Allah," he said. The prime minister highlighted Pakistan's needs in the nuclear energy sector and expressed confidence that with the passage of time and with positive engagement with the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Pakistan will succeed in earning co-operation for its nuclear power programme, which is an essential economic need.
He said his government had approved an ambitious nuclear power programme for generating 8800 mw of electricity by 2030, and it will spare no effort in convincing the world that it must co-operate with Pakistan in this field.
Shaukat Aziz said he was confident that this will eventually happen and it was only a matter of time before the world realised the mutual benefits of engaging Pakistan in this area. The handing over ceremony was also attended by Vice Chief of Army Staff General Ahsan Saleem Hayat and senior scientists and military officials.