President Mamnoon Hussain has stressed putting aside political and party affiliations for the survival of democracy and urged cooperation amongst state institutions to make them strong.
In an address to the joint sitting of the Parliament on Monday, the president reviewed the performance of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government over the past one year, spoke about the challenges the country faces and repeatedly urged unity and cooperation amongst all stakeholders in confronting those challenges.
In his first address since assuming his office in September 2013, the president said continuity of democracy was important for the country’s progress and stressed that a solution to all issues must be found within the ambit of the constitution.
“Democracy and the sovereignty of law and constitution is the present and future of Pakistan,” he said.
“Democracy is about respecting the majority, preferring national institutions over personalities and prioritising national interests over political interests,” Mamnoon told the joint sitting that was attended by Leader of the House Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, opposition leader Syed Khurshid Shah, parliamentarians, chief ministers, services chiefs and diplomats.
In his 31-minute address, the president touched upon the success of economic policies of the present government that encouraged foreign investment, measures to generate more power and curb load shedding, including launch of 19 power projects with total capacity of 24,870 MW, launch of the 3G and 4G service that brought $1.2 billion revenue, successful visits of the PM to foreign countries and the visits of foreign leaders to Pakistan that spoke of improvement of country’s foreign policy.
Hussain specifically mentioned PM’s Youth Business Loan Scheme, Skill Development Programme and Youth Training Programmes, besides the fee reimbursement scheme.
He particularly mentioned that Pakistan was heading towards financial stability with increase in GNP, decline in budget deficit, successful launch of Euro bond, grant of GSP plus status by European Union.
ROLE OF SECURITY FORCES APPRECIATED: The president also lauded the role of the civil and military security forces in sacrificing their lives for the defence of their motherland and defending internal and external frontiers.
He acknowledged the role of media and said the government does not believe in any restrictions but suggested that it formulate a code of conduct.
Referring to the issue of extremism and terrorism the president said the resolution of the issue was vital to take the country on the path of progress and development and said it was this reason that the government chose the option of dialogue.
FOREIGN POLICY: Speaking on the government’s international priorities, the president said Pakistan supports peace and wanted friendly ties based upon mutual respect, honour and equality with all the countries.
He mentioned Pakistan’s ties with Afghanistan and India and pointed to Sharif’s participation in the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected Indian PM Narendra Modi.
“It proves the fact that we are always ready to develop friendly relations with India. We also want solution of Kashmir issue on the basis of resolutions passed by the United Nations as per the aspirations of the people of Kashmir,” he said.
He also spoke about Pakistan’s ties with Iran and said, “Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline will be accomplished which will further strengthen our friendly ties.”
The president also referred to Pakistan’s time-tested relations with China and said these have now transcended beyond formal diplomatic ties to the level of everlasting and proverbial examples acknowledged by the international community.
