Calling Karachi a “mini-Pakistan” and the lifeline and hub of the nation’s economy, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Friday that economic stability was not possible without peace.
“Everyone, especially the people of Karachi, should come forward and play their due role for peace in Karachi,” Gilani said in his address to a ceremony arranged for special children who won medals in the Special Olympics recently held in Athens.
He said people from all provinces were working in Karachi and earning their livelihood. “I appeal to everyone living in Karachi to contribute positively in maintaining peace in the city in order to strengthen the city and the country,” he added.
He said Karachi was the country’s financial jugular vein and the city of the Quaid-e-Azam. He asked the provincial governments to search for potential youngsters in their domains in pursuance of the government’s policy to include them in the national mainstream. Special children were the heroes of the nation who brought honour to the country through their hard work, he added.
The premier paid tribute to the coaches who worked day and night to achieve success and helped bring a good name to the country. He said the government would continue its support for sports in the country, adding that the winner special children would become goodwill ambassadors.
Later, the prime minister met Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs Minister Mian Manzoor Wattoo, who called on him at Prime Minister’s House on Friday. Gilani said the resolution of problems was only possible through dialogue, and all democratic powers should respect the decision of the Kashmiri people as they had elected the Pakistan People’s Party in the general elections.
Gilani said cooperation and reconciliatory politics would be pursued in Azad Jammu and Kashmir in the post election period as well. He ordered that all his announcements made during his visit to Neelum Valley last year be implemented without delay.
Wattoo appreciated the leadership qualities of the prime minister and said the recent electoral win in Kashmir was a result of the prime minister’s sagacity and political acumen. He also discussed with Gilani matters relating to the Gilgit-Baltistan Council.
Separately, speaking to office-bearers of the PPP’s Punjab Parliamentary Party at Prime Minister’s House, Gilani said the government had devised a comprehensive strategy to accelerate the pace of development in all areas of the country. He maintained that this policy produced effective results because of active participation of parliamentarians.
