ISLAMABAD – Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Sunday said thatPakistan is a peace loving country and keen on establishing cordialrelations with its neighbouring countries on the basis of equality formaintaining regional harmony.
Talking to *APP* at his residence, the foreign minister said that our toppriority is establishing peace in the country as well as in the region inlarger interest of the people.
Asif maintained that Pakistan is making all-out efforts to develop healthyand durable relations with Afghanistan, Iran, India, Russia, and othercountries of the region. He also said that higher authorities in both Indiaand Pakistan are in talks to handle harassment incidents of Pakistan HighCommission. He hoped that efforts in this regard would bear fruit andrelationship between the two neighbouring countries would improve.
“Pakistan and Russia are enjoying highly cordial relations and Russia isextending cooperation and support to Pakistan in different fields” said thefederal minster adding that relations between these two countries wouldfurther strengthen.
“We want to see Afghanistan as a peaceful and stable country becausePakistan would benefit the most from a peaceful Afghanistan”, Asif added.
Moreover, the minister also said that the government is making seriousefforts for purging the country of the menace of terrorism and make it asafe place for its people, adding that Pakistan has rendered greatscarifies in form of precious human lives and suffered economic losses inthe war against terrorism.
“The world should recognise the sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in waragainst terrorism while ignoring these sacrifices would be unjust. Nocountry in the world has done more than Pakistan to check the menace ofterrorism”, said the foreign minister.
Asif also stated that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would play aninstrumental role in bringing revolutionary changes across the country. Hesaid that the resulting economic stability and prosperity would not onlybenefit the people of Pakistan but of the region at large.
*Workers convention*
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader also declaredthat Nawaz Sharif continues to rule the hearts of people.
“The people consider Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif as a great leader who putthe country on road to progress and development”, said Khawaja Asif whileaddressing a party workers convention in Pooran Heran-Sialkot city.
Khawaja Asif said that the PML-N government had completed a record numberof social welfare and human development projects across the country underthe dynamic leadership of Nawaz. He also added that the popularity of PML-Nand its former president was increasing with day by day, which will reflectin the upcoming general elections.
“The government will complete its constitutional tenure”, said the federalminister stating that it is the demand of the day that the Constitutionmust be protected under all circumstances. He further said that thegovernment was fulfilling all of its promises, adding that only the rulingparty is capable of driving the nation towards advancement.
Lauding the workers for their devotion to the party, Asif said that loyalworkers are the true asset of PML-N and that the relationship between theparty and people us the relation of prosperity and progress.
Furthermore, he also said that 1800 KMs long motorways were completedacross the country. He vowed to continue the journey of socio-economic,human development and masses’ prosperity in the country.
Besides the senior party leader, MPA Ch Muhammad Ikram, Deputy Mayor ChBashir, PML-N local leaders Ch Imdad Ali, Amir Saleem Mirza, Haji AbdulQadeer Sheikh, Khurrum Shahbaz Khan, Ali Basra and Rana Muhammad Imran werealso present on the occasion. – APP