President General Pervez Musharraf said on Saturday that Pakistan is making efforts for lasting peace in the region through an amicable resolution of long-running Jammu and Kashmir dispute with India and stressed that the two sides can overcome obstacles with courage and determination. Addressing the Pakistani community, the President said Pakistan and India are engaged in a dialogue process to find a final solution to the decades-old dispute.
"I see light at the end of the tunnel because I think there is desire on both sides to address the issue. We are moving in this direction, both the sides will have to show sincerity, flexibility and courage for final settlement of the dispute."
Referring to his meetings with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he said he felt that he has the desire and courage to address the issue. The two sides, he said, can overcome obstacles with courage and determination.
The President pointed out that not only the leadership on both sides has the desire to address issues but also the people of the two countries want peace.
"The people of the two countries have overtaken the leadership in their desire for peace," he said, adding peace can help economic and trade co-operation in South Asia to the benefit of all nations.
Continuing, the President asserted the leadership in the two countries has a critical responsibility to grasp the peace opportunity.
"Otherwise, future generations will not forgive us," he said and recalled that numerous agreements between Pakistan and India failed in the past, as they did not address the underlying cause of tension.
The President reiterated his call for proactive efforts by all against extremism. He also reiterated Islamabad's firm commitment to eliminating extremism and terrorism from the country.
"We will crush and eliminate terrorism with force, we will not allow any terrorist to pursue his agenda on the Pakistani soil," he remarked.
Pakistan, he said, has to address both extremism and terrorism as "we require a peaceful and congenial environment for continuing our march on the path of high economic growth and to reduce poverty through wider distribution of economic gains."
He said the government is tackling extremism strategically by promoting moderation, tolerance and harmony, which are true values of Islam.
"The vast majority is moderate and wants peace and harmony, but there are people who want to impose their will on others. Let us tolerate each other, let us live and let live instead of imposing wills on others.
Everyone should pay attention to responsibilities towards society and the nation," he said amid applause from the expatriate Pakistanis, who had travelled from various parts of the country to listen to the President.
Explaining efforts being made to discourage religious extremism, President Musharraf said an effective check will be ensured on misuse of mosque loudspeakers and publication and propagation of hate material.
He told the gathering of Pakistanis that having achieved economic sovereignty, the government is now striving to reduce poverty through growth in both agricultural and industrial sectors.
"Economic turnaround and fiscal policies have seen a vast increase in the allocations for the public sector development programme, which have ballooned from Rs 100 billion in 1999 to around Rs 300 billion, generating tremendous activity through mega projects.
He referred to construction of water reservoirs, road networks, deep seaports and brick-lining of water canals and said the completion of projects within next two years would set the pace for sustained high growth in both agrarian and industrial sectors.
"The bumper harvest of wheat (21 million tonnes) and cotton (15 million bales) this year has seen induction of additional Rs 60 billion into the farming community, which has contributed to poverty reduction."
"It is for the first time that poverty and unemployment have been reduced, he said, citing figures of unprecedented production and sale of motorbikes, tractors, TV sets, refrigerators, etc.
The President particularly mentioned construction of dams and canals in Sindh and Balochistan and said these would bring large tracts of land under cultivation, boosting growth in the agriculture sector.
President Musharraf informed the community members including doctors, scientists, intellectuals and workers that Pakistan has taken major strides in the fields of information technology and booming housing and construction sectors are providing jobs to thousands of professionals and semi-skilled people in urban centers.
"The number of mobile phone users has surged to 10.5 million from 600,000 in a matter of two years," he said.
Contrasting the current healthy state of the economy with its dismal position in the year 1999, the President said all public sector organisations including Pakistan Steel Mills, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, Pakistan International Airlines and Pakistan Railways are now working profitably.
About human resource development, he said the government has assigned high priority to basic health and education sectors.
The budget for science and technology has been enhanced to over 6 billion from a mere 180 billion in 1999.
"The number of Pakistanis doing PhD in science subjects is also on the rise and we have also taken steps for international recognition of Pakistani degrees," he said.
In response to demands raised by expatriate Pakistanis, President Musharraf agreed with the proposal of having a Jinnah House in Auckland.
He also dilated on restructuring of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and said his strategy of enlightened moderation offered a way forward under which the West has to resolve the political disputes affecting the Muslim countries with justice and the Muslim world has to curb terrorism and focus on socio-economic advancement.
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