NEWS

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed these views while addressing the 92nd officers commissioning parade of Pakistan Navy held at Pakistan Naval Academy on Monday.

The President further said that arms race in the region is not in our interest. However, maintenance of minimum credible deterrence is necessary to keep nefarious designs at bay. A strong Navy is, therefore, essential to thwart the challenges to our sovereignty in the maritime sector.

President Zardari said that we have strong and capable Armed Forces, which can fully safeguard our national sovereignty and territorial integrity. As a nation, the Chief Guest continued, it is our duty to guard ourselves against all external and internal threats and the extremist elements who disrupt peace in the name of religion for their own vested interests.

The President said that in the backdrop of changed geo-political scenario, Pakistan faces new challenges to its security, which requires firm commitment to war against terrorism. He said that Pakistan Navy’s participation in Coalition Maritime Campaign Plan (CMCP) has been internationally acknowledged. It has also enhanced PN’s professional acumen besides preventing terrorists and checking arms, drugs, and human smuggling, thereby providing safe environment for smooth maritime economic activities.

Commenting on the self reliance policy of Pakistan Navy, President Zardari hoped that successful completion of Agosta submarine project and recent induction of F-22P Frigate PNS ZULFIQUAR along with Z9EC helicopters would definitely augment defence capability of our Naval Fleet. He urged the graduating officers to whole-heartedly commit themselves to their profession of protecting the country’s maritime interests. He also extended his felicitations to the officers who were commissioned today and formally joined Pakistan Naval Force.

The President said that it is heartening to see that for the first time ever, female cadets were trained and commissioned from Naval Academy. "This is a manifestation of Quaid’s vision to provide women with an equally instrumental role to play in the defence, progress and development of the country", he added.

Earlier, in his welcome address Commandant Pakistan Naval Academy Commodore Ayaz Ahmed Nasir underlined salient features of officers’ training. He apprised the audience that for the first time ever, 25 female cadets along with 57 Midshipmen including 8 from Palestine are being commissioned today. He also informed that Naval Academy is also imparting professional training to young cadets of brotherly countries of Kazakhstan, Maldives, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen.

Later, the Chief Guest gave away prizes to the winners. Midshipman Syed Muhammad Arsalan was awarded Sword of Honour for his best all round performance. Sub Lieut Abdullah Naveed, Cadet Bilal Yasir Alvi and Cadet Ayesha Saleem received Quaid-e-Azam, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and Commandant Gold Medals respectively. Academy Dirk went to Midshipmen Fahad Saleem. Main Top Squadron received Proficiency Banner.

The ceremony was attended by Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Tariq Majeed, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, senior naval officers, foreign diplomats and parents and relatives of the passing out term.

Meanwhile addressing the foundation stone-laying ceremony of Mohatta Palace Museum Complex at Mohatta Palace on Monday President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the entire nation will have to get united to steer the country out of simmering predicaments, as " the challenge we are facing is very grave".

" We should stand up to the challenge of this time, which is no doubt very grave. But nations do face such challenges, whether it is World War-I or World War-II or natural calamities. They handle such challenges with vigor and resolve", President Zardari said

Governor Sindh DR Ishrat-ul-Ebad, Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Finance Minister, Shaulat Tareen, and chairman of the board of trustees of Mohatta Palace Hameed Haroon, were also present on the occasion.

The president, who returned his written speech to his military secretary, and opted for an extempore speech, vowed that he would continue to quest for the mission started by his father-in-law Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and wife Benazir Bhutto.

" If your city is burning, then it is our collective responsibility to save it. It was not only the responsibility of my wife to sacrifice her life for that"|, Mr Zardari maintained and added " I would continue the mission of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, because if I don’t do that, it will be tantamount to betraying the nation".

Paying rich tributes to the slain prime minister Benazir Bhutto, Mr Zardari said that she was a role model being the first Muslim woman prime minister, for the entire world.

" This is her vision, we are carrying, and we will continue that for a better Pakistan", he said.

" We should stand to the challenges as she (BB) took on while walking to the spirit of her father who had said that he would prefer to die at the hands of a dictator instead of history", he added.

The president said he knew the fact that the three chairpersons of the PPP had been assassinated, but still he nominated his son, Bilawal Bhutto as the chairman of the party.

" This is our goal to make Pakistan a great country, and for this, we have to get united to save the future of our coming generations", he contended.

Recalling his childhood days in Karachi, the president said that he had spent a wonderful time in the city as a child.

" I remember that I used to come here at Mohatta Palace as child. I also used to come to Clifton by bicycle. It was a much better Karachi, whereby you would not need bulletproof cars, and tall boundary walls. I remember that even gates of our houses remained open", he said.

President Zardari said " We all have to go back from this world, but we must realize that what will we be taking with us there? We will not take anything with us. what we take with us will be good things, like Shaheed Benazir Bhutto who took martyrdom, honour, and love of people with her", he said.

Governor Sindh, DR Ishrat-ul-Ebad, and Hameed Haroon also spoke on the occasion.

Later, the president visited an exhibition comprising artwork of famous Pakistani artists.