President tells Opp not to use pester power for illegal ends

• Mamnoon says CPEC will have to be spearheaded by multiple govts and not just the current one
• Says democracy in Pakistan strong enough to withstand crises
• Asks India to reciprocate Pakistan’s sincere overtures for dialogue
• Says we should build a monument in memory of Zarb-e-Azb martyrs

President Mamnoon Hussain said on Wednesday that the opposition has no right to impose its will on the government through illegal means.

“While the government should take the opposition’s criticism on economic policies positively, the opposition has no right to impose its beliefs on the government,” the president said in his address to the joint sitting of the parliament to mark the start of the fourth parliamentary year of the present government.

“Pakistan’s democracy has been strengthened to the extent that it can now withstand any crisis,” Mamnoon said, adding that sustainable development is not possible without a stable democracy.

He said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had guided the country to progress. Under the PM’s leadership, the system of tax collection had improved, the budget deficit and inflation had been brought under control and growth had been sustained, he added.

He said that the CPEC project will have to be spearheaded by several governments and not just the current one before its completion.

“Governments come and go but the state remains, hence CPEC too will see several elections and governments before its completion,” the president said and added, “One cannot overstate how important the Pak-China partnership is for the national economic growth. Heads of many countries have personally told me that this partnership will prove to be a golden opportunity for their own economic development.”

President Mamnoon Hussain said the schedule of the CPEC clearly shows the project is not of benefit to any particular government, a political party or a group of politicians but purely a national project.

“It is the responsibility of the nation to remove every internal and external obstacle in the way of CPEC’s implementation,” he said.

The president said that successful completion of three years of democratic journey is testimony to the political maturity of the nation and reflects that the system is capable of taking the country forward on the path of durable progress and stability.

He said that a government which ensures rule of law, economic development and provision of basic needs to the people can easily overcome challenges, succeed in stabilising democracy and reinforce the relationship between an individual and the state.

The president said he was glad to note that both the government and opposition are cognizant of this and are formulating policies in the light of this philosophy to strengthen democracy.

Mamnoon Hussain said it is now the responsibility of each individual, class and institution to earnestly contribute towards reinforcing this positive trend. He said the government, be it of any political party, should formulate policies in accordance with the tested principle so that democracy can take root and the people may lead a prosperous life.

DONE, DONE AND DONE:

Enumerating the economic achievements of the three years of the government, the president said tax system and collection has improved, foreign exchange reserves increased, GDP has steadily expanded and this year’s growth has been 4.7%. He said the budget deficit stands reduced, inflation controlled and the rupee stabilised.

He said these positive indicators will encourage foreign investors and accelerate our economic progress, which will be further boosted by CPEC. He said such a welcome progress on the economic front is possible only through consistent and realistic policies.

The president said more steps should be taken to pass on the benefits of improved economic situation to the common man.

Referring to the welfare steps taken by the government, he said these include business opportunities and technical training for youth, comprehensive programme for poverty alleviation, PM’s health insurance, subsidy on essential consumer goods, special package for farmers, educational facilities and stipends for underdeveloped areas and provision of laptops to talented students.

The president said that at this juncture of our history, we need national consensus and solidarity and its significance is even greater in the context of CPEC. He said there is no weight in the reservations expressed by certain quarters regarding the Corridor. He expressed satisfaction that concerted efforts have led to national consensus on the matter and said that apprehensions if any should be removed through dialogue.

The president said that the nation should unite on the agenda of economic stability for continuity in policies in all situations. He hoped political parties and other stakeholders will soon agree on this national agenda. He also recounted the measures and projects launched by the government to address the energy crisis including LNG and electricity import and construction of water reservoirs.

He said the dream of national development will materialise only when there is peace and a conducive business environment.

‘A MONUMENT TO THE MEMORY OF OUR MARTYRS’:

The president expressed satisfaction that efforts to restore law and order in different areas particularly in FATA, Balochistan and Karachi have produced positive results. He was confident that the objectives of Zarb-e-Azb would be achieved by the end of the year, leading to internal peace and security.

He said the nation needs to fully stand by all the law enforcement agencies to completely eliminate terrorism and lawlessness. He said a national monument should be built in memory of all those who have sacrificed their lives in the war against terror.

The president urged the government and the opposition to work in tandem to utilise the potential of the youth and women.

Addressing the world community, the president said Pakistan’s foreign policy is based on the principle of peace for development and a peaceful neighbourhood. He said the main cause of tension in the region is the Kashmir issue, which is an unfinished agenda of the partition of the sub-continent. As long as this issue is not resolved in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiri people and the UN resolutions, the problems of the region will remain unresolved. He also urged India to reciprocate Pakistan’s sincere overtures for dialogue.

President Mamnoon Hussain said Pakistan is of the view that peace and stability in Afghanistan is imperative for peace in the region.

He said Pakistan has a special relationship with the Islamic world including Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia and other countries of the Middle East and Central Asia.

He said a defence cooperation agreement has recently been concluded with Russia and under another agreement, Russia is likely to invest $2 billion for laying Karachi-Lahore gas pipeline.

He particularly referred to Pakistan’s cordial relations with China, USA and the European Union.

He noted with satisfaction that the next SAARC summit will be held in Pakistan in November this year.

The president said Pakistan strongly believes in nuclear security and has made state-of-the-art arrangements for safety of its nuclear installations.

President Mamnoon Hussain advised the nation not to be despondent as Pakistan will soon regain its rightful status in the comity of nations.

The joint session was attended by governors of the provinces, chief minister GB, members of the diplomatic community, services chiefs and other senior officials.