ISLAMABAD – President Mamnoon Hussain said that Islamic teachings ensure peace, security, development and stability adding that neither our faith permits any kind of disorder nor will the state permit any subversive activities.
Addressing the fifth convocation of the Air University, he said that the international system has significantly changed during the past few decades and the priorities of nations have transitioned as the economy has attained precedence over politics. He said that the modern era requires that our future generations commit to becoming self-dependent in education, economics, defence and every other sphere of life and national economic stability is essential for this purpose.
Air University Chancellor and Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, chairman of the Board of Governors, were also present at the occasion. President Mamnoon also distributed awards and degrees to the graduates.
President Mamnoon said that Pakistan can achieve this goal through the promotion of business activities by utilising the opportunities opened by the economic corridor. He said that to fully exploit the benefits of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) it is essential that Pakistan be made strong and secure in every way.
He said that for this purpose, operations against terrorism are being conducted under the National Action Plan and the people should support their government and institutions. He stressed that every section of the Pakistani society should know that no good deed can be accomplished using the wrong means. He said that high aims can only be achieved through a sincere path not through violence.
President Mamnoon said that Pakistan has suffered a lot over the past few decades and the country has gone astray from the path to development and progress as envisaged by the Quaid-e-Azam which in turn promoted corruption and mismanagement. In 1999, Pakistan was in a debt of Rs 3000 billion and this debt increased to Rs 14800 billion in 2013 when the incumbent government took over, he said.
He said that while the Kalabagh Dam was made controversial, past governments did not work on any alternate water projects even though feasibility of Diamer Bhasha Dam and Dasu Dam had been completed. He said he was satisfied that the pace of development in all sectors had increased during the present government’s rule. He said that the import of LNG was a good initiative taken by the government and it will solve many problems.
The president said that there has been criticism on the price for LNG import but he assured the nation that the purchase of LNG at a lower price was not possible and this has been verified by reports of international organisations. He said that people should not criticise unjustly and let the country tread the path of progress. He clarified that there has not been an inch of change in the route of the economic corridor.
Mamnoon advised the youth to fully focus on their education and that girls in particular should not face any hindrance in acquiring knowledge and they should also acquire education from abroad if they feel it necessary but they should remember that they are daughters of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and never compromise on their Islamic and cultural identity. On the occasion, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman also presented a memento to President Mamnoon.
