Defence Minister Naveed Qamar said on Saturday that negotiations between Pakistan and India over withdrawal of troops from Siachen were in progress, and soon a better strategy would be formulated.
While talking to journalists at Tando Muhammad Khan after inaugurating various road and electricity supply schemes, Qamar said that Siachen possessed a unique status of the world’s highest border with no population in the area.
The secretary-level deliberations were recently held a few days ago, and it is hoped that both the countries will succeed in formulating a comprehensive strategy for withdrawal of troops from the area, he added.
Replying to a question about Arsalan Iftikhar Case, Qamar said that following the directives of the Supreme Court, the government had formed a legal committee, which would submit its report after completing due procedure.
“The opponent political parties are trying to politicise this issue with the aim to gain sympathies of the people for the next general elections,” the minister said, adding that the countrymen were “fully aware of such tactics of the government’s opponents”.
About Zulfikarabad, the minister said the project was in the interest of the people of Sindh, as with the establishment of a new city, the people of the area would not only enjoy maximum facilities but the doors of progress and prosperity with employment would also be opened for the people of the province.
The increasing population demands the establishment of more cities in order to provide better civic facilities to the residents, he said, adding that Zulfikarabad Project would bring a “revolution of economic development” in the province.
Qamar was critical over the role of nationalist organisations on the issue and said that they were only misguiding the people of the province.
About the performance of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the minister said the government had appointed a new chairman of the airline and hoped that the policies would bring significant improvement.
Responding to a question, the minister said that there was no contribution of PIA in the federal budget as the PIA has its own revenue generation policy.
Replying to another question about the restoration of NATO supplies, Qamar said that all decisions in this respect would be made by the government keeping in view the national interest and the betterment of the country.
About local government elections, the minister said that the government would conduct the local government elections according to law.
The minister earlier inaugurated the schemes of electric supply in Village Razi Khan Chandio and Village Chakkar Jamali and also inaugurated the link road schemes in Village Qasim Sand and Haji Ahmed Sand.
He also visited the residence of Yousuf Bhatti and offered condolences on the death of his relative. He also visited the residences of senior journalist Ghulam Nabi Kerio and offered condolences on the death of his brother. The minister also visited the residence of former Union Council Nazim Khalil Ahmed and offered condolences on the death of his mother.
