Politician Hamza Shahbaz, who spoke to the media while doling out gifts to children undergoing treatment in the Children Hospital on the Eid Day, said the elimination of terror was the top priority of the national leadership.
He told median men, "The menace of terrorism has been controlled to a large extent and the whole nation is standing by shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces in the defence of the country. Pakistan wants to have negotiations with India and other neighbouring countries at equal level but no one should have any misunderstanding that Pakistan has 20 million respectable citizens and it is also a nuclear power and it will not compromise on national interest."
He claimed that the investment of $40 billion would "usher in a new era of development in the country" and that Pakistan would become "an economic tycoon in the future". He also made it clear that Premier Nawaz Sharif had taken political parties in confidence, especially of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and paved the way for political understanding on the economic corridor and this historic project would not become a victim of politics like the Kalabagh Dam. "Had the Kalabagh Dam been constructed, 6,000 megawatt of cheap electricity would have become available and proved a precious asset," he said.
He went on, "The government is determined to restore peace in the country. The Karachi operation should not be given a political colour and indiscriminate action should be taken against the enemies of peace ... Political parties are standing shoulder to shoulder with national leadership for this purpose." During his visit to the Children Hospital, he also saw the Cancer Ward.