NEWS

PM says Pakistan mindful of policies that could undermine stability in region
* Peace in Afghanistan a matter of interest to Pakistan

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Strategic stability in South Asia is a pre-requisite for lasting peace and prosperity for the people of the region, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Tuesday.

Presiding over a meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet, Gilani said, “We are mindful of the policies and trends that can undermine strategic stability in our region. Pakistan will be obliged to counter such negative trends by all appropriate means”.

The meeting was held to evaluate the security situation in the light of global and regional developments and their impact on Pakistan.

Gilani said there was a need to review the country’s ongoing counter-terrorism and law enforcement actions.

He said Pakistan had utilised its national capacity to execute the campaign on counterterrorism and success of its efforts stood out in sharp contrast to what the coalition forces in Afghanistan had been able to achieve over the past nine years.

He said the people responded generously to his appeal for contributions and Rs 2.4 billion were raised through the Prime Minister’s Special Fund for Relief of Victims of Terrorism.

Gilani also appreciated the solidarity and support by the international community for the country’s efforts to help the displaced persons.

He said Rs 10.2 billion were released to the NWFP government in the last six months as cash grant for food and relief and rehabilitation.

He said Rs 2.6 billion had been released for South Waziristan, adding that the funds were being utilised for cash assistance, relief and rehabilitation in a transparent manner.

Separately, he said the government had provided Rs 7.1 billion to the NWFP government for capacity building of law enforcement agencies as well as for compensation payments.

Rs 332 million had been given to the Interior Ministry to help meet its security-related expenses.

A total of Rs 20.2 billion had been sanctioned during the last six months for the aforementioned purposes, he said. “The total allocation from our budget for relief, rehabilitation and capacity building is Rs 50 billion,” Gilani said.

The federal government would contribute Rs 500 million to the “Shuhada Trust Fund” with Rs 50 million for each province.

In recognition of the sacrifices rendered by the country’s armed forces, the government had already announced an increase in their salaries, the prime minister said.

Legitimate interest: He said Pakistan was a peace-loving country. “We will continue to endeavour to promote peace, security and stability in our region. We have for over three decades shouldered the burden of 3.5 million Afghan refugees. We continue to be directly impacted by the conflict in Afghanistan. Restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan is a matter of direct and legitimate interest to Pakistan. We will continue to play a constructive role in this regard,” he added.