Karachi: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday vowed to keep the fight against terrorism up until the government completely defeats militants.
The premier made the remarks during his address to leading businessmen and investors at the Karachi Stock Exchange, Pakistan’s benchmark bourse.
He regretted that the Pakistani economy had to endure losses in billions of dollars because of terrorism in the country.
“We will take this war the last extent and would be complacent only after eliminating the terror network,” Prime Minister Sharif said.
The Prime Minister said, with the deteriorating image of the country amid a long drawn war on terrorism, there was little foreign investment in the country.
However, he said that his government would work on building a new image of Pakistan to woo investors.
Sharif also extended assurance that the ongoing energy crisis would soon be over as his government was working on many projects simultaneously.
Besides conventional power, general fuels including coal and liquefied petroleum gas (LNG) and renewable energy sources were being tapped into, he said.
He said that the focus of the government was on the long term energy projects and currently work on Dasu and Bonji dams were going on which would generate 15,000MW to 17,000MW of electricity cumulatively.
Besides, work on Bhasha Dam was also going on which would be a big source of water reservoir besides producing electricity on large scale.
The Prime Minister also observed that the country’s progress was linked with the peace in Karachi, the financial capital of the country.
He told the business community that with the ongoing operation of law enforcement agencies, the crimes involving extortion, targeted killings and kidnapping for ransom came down significantly.
The Premier assured them that the operation would go on until the people consider themselves completely safe and secured.
He said that the operation was not against any political party but aimed at targeting the criminals regardless of their political affiliation or refuge.
Sharif’s comments were in reference to the recent raid by law enforcement agencies on the headquarters of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), that irked the party as it claimed that the operation was switching to uproot the party instead of eliminating the criminals from the city.
Later on, Sharif presided over a meeting at the Faisal Airbase where corps commander of Karachi Lieutenant-General Naveed Mukhtar and director general of paramilitary Rangers Major-General Bilal Akbar called on him.
The two senior military generals briefed the prime minister of the present law and order situation in this mega city. Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, who represents Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) also participated in the meeting.
However, governor Ishratul Ebad, of the MQM, was not invited to take part in the meeting convened to evolve strategy to overcome law and order in this largest city of the country.
