PESHAWAR/MIR ALI: Paying rich tributes to the services and sacrifices of the army for its efforts to establish peace and order through the Operation Zarb-e-Azb, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday said that the terrorists had been eliminated from the North Waziristan Agency (NWA) and now peace would prevail across the country.
He further said that the operation currently underway in Karachi was proving extremely successful in reducing the target killings, extortion and other crimes.He maintained that target killings and extortion in Karachi had been reduced to a great extent.The prime minister was addressing a gathering at the Governor’s House where he distributed cheques among the rainstorm victims.
Earlier, addressing the temporarily-displaced persons (TDPs) of the NWA at Mir Ali, he lauded the role of the army in the elimination of terror activities in the area. Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif was also present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering at the Governor House, Peshawar, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that the people of Karachi had become happier ever since the operation was launched in the city.He recalled that Pakistan was cooperating with Afghanistan to eradicate terrorism completely from the two countries.
The premier reiterated that peace was imperative for sustained development in the country as peace and stability would attract local and foreign investment and help resolve issues like poverty, unemployment and illiteracy.
He mentioned a marked reduction in the incidents of terrorism after the government’s endeavours to restore peace across the country. He said that sanctuaries of terrorists had been destroyed in the NWA while street crimes like extortion and target killings had been controlled in Karachi.
Referring to the government’s development agenda, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would benefit the people of all the four provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Road networks would be established from Gwadar to Khunjerab.
The premier said that fast development and infrastructure and construction of roads and motorways network would bring fruits for the entire region at large. He said that Gwadar would be developed as an international city and there would be a lot of development in the whole province of Balochistan.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) would be used to generate electricity and help eliminate loadshedding from the country.The prime minister distributed compensation cheques of over Rs8 million among the rain-affected people at the ceremony. These people had lost their dear ones and their properties were destroyed during a recent rainstorm in Peshawar, Charsadda and Nowshera.
He offered condolences for those who perished in the rainstorm and said that the Met office couldn’t forecast the inclement weather that swallowed so many precious lives.The ceremony was also attended by Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Abbasi, Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak, President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Youth Wing, Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar, Political Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Syed Asif Saeed Kirmani and Adviser to the Prime Minister Amir Muqam Khan.
Addressing the TDPs at Mir Ali, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appreciated their sacrifices and said that the government would provide all resources for their rehabilitation in the respective areas. He assured them that the government would provide resources for the reconstruction of their houses. “It is our duty as you have shown courage and tolerance and given sacrifices for the establishment of peace in the area,” he said. The IDPs are returning to their native areas in the NWA. The process of IDPs’ return to their homes started in March last.
The prime minister expressed the hope that with the conclusion of terrorism due to the Zarb-e-Azb operation in NWA, not only the tribal areas would become a cradle of peace but it would also help in establishing peace across the country.
The prime minister stressed that the government was determined to launch massive development projects in the tribal areas and said schools, colleges and hospitals would be constructed in the area so that the local people might have health and education facilities at their doorsteps.
While commending the services and sacrifices of the officers and jawans of armed forces, he said that they had been playing a pivotal role in the elimination of terrorism through the Zarb-e-Azb operation and established peace in the tribal areas. “Well done. The armed forces did a good job for which they deserve all praise. They eliminated terrorism from the area and established peace. Now you (TDPs) can live there with peace,” he observed. The prime minister also lauded the armed forces for properly looking after the TDPs during their temporary stay in camps. He assured them that the government and the armed forces would ensure their security as they returned to their homes.
The premier announced that he would also visit the NWA soon and meet them at their doorsteps.He, on this occasion, also distributed gifts among the TDPs, who were returning to their homes. He expressed the confidence that peace would prevail in the agency which would have a positive impact on the whole country. He said the situation had now been conducive for the TDPs to return to their homes. He said that the whole of the tribal belt would be made a cradle of peace.
Premier Nawaz Sharif said the government would provide financial assistance to the TDPs for reconstruction of their houses. The TDPs have been provided transport charges and cash assistance.
Appreciating the tireless work of the army and the lives lost during the operation, he said it was because of their sacrifices that peace was being restored. He said the tribal people had to leave their homes for a limited period to help the security forces carry out an effective operation against the terrorists in the area. He said that once the TDPs returned home, the government and army together would provide them security.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that the government and the army had fulfilled their promise to the population affected by the military operation being carried out in the North Waziristan tribal region. “It is a joyous occasion for the displaced persons. I am happy to see the return of the temporarily displaced,” the prime minister said.
Premier Sharif said that the army had ensured the welfare of the displaced persons and had played an exemplary role in cleansing the NWA of terrorists. “Peace has been established in NWA and the Pakistan Army deserves praise for its sacrifices made in this regard. The army played the main role in the rehabilitation of displaced persons and the situation in the region has been made favourable,” he said. Lauding the military’s efforts in bringing peace to the region, the prime minister also mentioned the deaths of five military personnel, including an officer, in the Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency on Thursday.
He said those who had to leave their homes had exhibited patience and courage and would now be able to live in their homes in peace. After the launch of Zarb-e-Azb operation against the local and foreign terrorists, 101,788 families had left North Waziristan and 86,107 had shifted from Khyber Agency last year.
A luncheon was also organised for the TDPs. The prime minister attended a briefing on the Operation Zarb-e-Azb and return of the displaced families to their homes.COAS General Raheel Sharif, Federal Minister Lieutenant General (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor and Peshawar Corps Commander Lieutenant General Hidayat-ur-Rehman were also present on the occasion.
No comments:
Post a Comment