Country vital than anything: President

If you have purchased a key, please President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Sunday underlined that unparallel develop projects were started over the last few years in Balochistan wherein projects of the worth of Rs 50b have been completed.
He expressed these views while speaking, as chief guest, at the foundation stone laying ceremony of National Highway (N-85) in Quetta. Outgoing Chief Minister of Balochistan Jam Muhammad Yousaf, Governor Balochistan Awais Ghani, Federal Minister for Communication Barrister Habibur Rehman and some other federal ministers along with leading figures of the province were also present on this occasion.
President said that government has taken some concrete steps to elevate the infrastructure of the Balochistan. “On the completion of ongoing mega projects, Balochistan will be linked up not only with the three provinces of Pakistan, but it will also provide road links to China, Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asian States”, he imparted.
“Such projects will boost the economy of Balochistan”, he claimed.
While giving the briefing about the project, Chairman National Highway Authority (NHA) Major General Imtiaz Ahmad said that NHA is simultaneously working on various projects across the country to provide National Trade Corridor. “The construction project of Hoshab, Nag, Beseemah, Sorab National Highway (N-85) is another step in this regard. The inaugurated project will provide road access to Gwadar on one hand and to Quetta on another hand throughout the year”, he added. President General Pervez Musharraf said that he had fulfilled his promise about strengthening democratic system in the country despite various kinds of pressures and now the country would enter into the next phase (general elections).
Addressing the earth-breaking ceremony of Surab-Panjgur-Hoshab section (N-85) of Gawdar-Quetta highway here Sunday, he said that the national Assembly has completed its tenure and now the provincial assemblies would also be completing their tenure by tomorrow (Monday).
Musharraf said that the government has been able to weed out terrorism and extremism from Balochistan with the active support of the people and their representatives and added that the reminiscent would also be eliminated soon.
He said that taking action against extremist elements in Balochistan was a difficult decision but the government succeeded in its efforts due to its honesty and sincerity of purpose.
The President said he attached top priority for the development of Balochistan and bring it on a par with the other parts of the country during his eight-year tenure in office. He said government carried out various development projects in the province including development of communication network, water resources to meet water scarcity and human resource development through setting up new universities and colleges of quality education.
Besides, the government also made different programmes to provide professional and technical education for the youths from the province and expressed satisfaction that these projects augured well and completed.—Agencies