Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has said that in pursuit of peace and prosperity, Pakistan has made tremendous sacrifices which had to be acknowledged.
In his key note address to the 9th Summit of the Asia-Europe in Vientiane Laos‚ he said the region’s enormous potential would remain under utilization if an atmosphere of conflict and tension continues to prevail.
The Prime Minister said “the security situation in the region is the out of three decades old conflict in Afghanistan has not allowed our people the degree of prosperity they deserved.”
He said it is important that the regional countries avoid conflicts and resolve their differences through dialogue and negotiations.
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said “in this way we should be able to preserve peace as well as the progress we have achieved.”
He said both Asia and Europe need to focus on the issues of energy security‚ food security‚ disaster management‚ water resource management and counter terrorism.
Raja Pervez Ashraf said that all religions and faiths and followers need the respect they deserve. He said it is most unfortunate that the miss-using the freedom of expression by some individuals who tried to trespass the threshold of decency and created is understanding.
He said such elements should not be allowed to succeed in their nefarious designs.
