Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on Thursday said that the overall law and order in the country had significantly improved and the country was heading towards peace and stability.
Inaugurating the First Governor FATA Youth Festival here, the COAS said that the nation has been fighting terrorism for long.
“The journey to achieve successes will continue in the form of operation Zarb-e-Azb. The Pakistan Army is fully backed by the entire nation and our determination to deal with this scourge will continue to be unaffected,” he said.
Tribal people, the army, law enforcement agencies, and the entire nation, have made great sacrifices, and they have led to great success, he said.
He said the improving law and order had paved way for the launch of projects like the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.
General Raheel Sharif said that youth plays an important role for the development of a country. The major part of the country’s population consisted of the youth, who were a highly valuable asset for the future of Pakistan.
He said youth from FATA had many capabilities, and efforts were being made to provide them with many opportunities so that they could play their role in the development of the country.
To achieve this goal the Pakistan Army had opened a chain of educational institutions, inclusive of cadet colleges for the students of the area. He said that the promotion of technical education and the youth employment scheme were a part of these efforts.
He expressed hope that FATA’s youth would ensure high esteem for the country’s honour and emblem.
General Raheel Sharif pointed out that the army had assisted the FATA Secretariat to promote sports in the area.
As part of these efforts, he announced that he would set up a sports stadium in Khyber Agency. A modern sports complex will also be established in North Waziristan, he added.
He said that the sportsmen of FATA had not only proved their mettle at the national level, but also the international level. He expressed hope that their abilities would further improve after faculties were provided in the sports sector.
He said to achieve lasting peace they would continue to make efforts not only in tribal areas, but also throughout the country.
He said that success could be achieved only with the support of the whole nation, and especially the youth.
Sharif expressed hope that the youth would come up to not just his expectations, but also those of the entire nation.
He assured that the army would never let the nation down. Later, he formally announced the opening of the First FATA Youth Festival.