Defence exports would be increased through maximum utilisation of Pakistan’s share in international arms market, said Federal Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanvir Ahmed Khan on Saturday.
“Pakistan’s defence exports are nominal at present while the PML-N government would make an all-out effort to achieve the export targets,” he said during his visit to a book fair at the Punjab University.
The minister said there was no question of the misuse of sold arms, adding that the recipient country provides a guarantee through an end consumer certificate to the seller.
On $ 1.5 billion assistance from a the KSA, the minister said an Islamic country had come forward to extend unconditional financial support to Pakistan as it faced economic challenges, adding that the brotherly Islamic country had also stood by Pakistan in all challenges in the past.
He said the Islamic country had not asked for any favour from Pakistan vis-a-vis any military assistance and the issue had already been clarified by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali.
Tanvir said dialogue and peace were preferences of the government and the release of non-militant prisoners was an effort of the government to find a peaceful solution of the issue, adding that all institutions including the army were on board on military operation against militants as last resort.
To a question, he said the government was optimistic about the outcome of the dialogue process with the Taliban.
Regarding Pervez Musharraf’s release, the federal minister said the case was sub judice, adding that his name had been put on the exit control list (ECL) by the federal government on an order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the former dictator could approach the court on the issue.
About open space to the Taliban and release of 250 non-militant prisoners, he said Pakistan was a sovereign country and it could deploy the military and arm forces in all parts of the country, adding that no such demand of the Taliban could be accepted.
He said the release of 250 non-militant prisoners could be taken up during the dialogue process between the government and Taliban representatives.
The minister dispelled the impression that some secular lobby in the country did not want the dialogue process with the Taliban to succeed.
About Musharraf and his aides, the minister said if he named his aides as per the law, the court could summon them.
To a query, the minister expressed his love for book reading and admired the initiative of the Punjab University to promote love for book reading amongst students and the youth.
Later, Rana Tanvir visited various stalls at the book fair.
He was accompanied by Punjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran.
