CPEC, Gwadar port to be built at all costs: COAS

KARACHI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on Saturday said that Pakistan had shown its willingness to cooperate with other nations for peace but not at the expense of its national interests, sovereign rights and national pride.
Addressing the Commissioning Parade as the chief guest at the Pakistan Naval Academy here, the army chief said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with Gwadar port as its catalyst will be built and developed as one of the most strategic deep sea ports in the region at all costs, according to a Navy press release.
He said that the CPEC held enormous potential for transforming the lives of the region’s people. “We are acutely aware of our enemy’s campaigns and will defeat their designs.” he added.
General Raheel said that the entire world endorsed Pakistan’s security concerns. Ceasefire violations, bloodletting in Balochistan, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and Karachi manifest the enemy’s hostile intent,” he added.
He said, “We are ready to pay any price to protect our nationhood and safeguard our interests, be it Kashmir, development of new ports or exploitation of natural resources.”
The army chief said, “The entire nation expresses its resolve to eliminate the menace of terror and operation Zarb-e-Azb is delivering decisive results. The terrorists are now resorting to desperate actions. The battle against terrorism won’t be won by the armed forces alone and it was encouraging to see the entire nation was pursuing this national effort with great sense of purpose,” he added.
Congratulating and extending felicitations on achieving this milestone, the army chief advised the passing out midshipmen and cadets to always ensure that the interests of the state and the service were prime to them. “Never let your personal feelings stand in the way of your commitment to the national duty bestowed upon you,” he added.
Earlier, upon his arrival, the COAS was received by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah.
The 103rd midshipmen commissioning term and 12th Short Service Commission Officers Course comprising a total of 129 officers got commissioned at Pakistan Naval Academy PNS Rahbar upon completion of rigorous training.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Commandant Pakistan Naval Academy highlighted the salient features of the officers training. He apprised the audience that the commissioning term comprises of 86 midshipmen including 48 from Pakistan and 38 from brotherly countries like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Nigeria.
The commandant highlighted that cadets from Bahrain, Jordan, Libya, Maldives, Nigeria, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Yemen were also undergoing training at the Pakistan Naval Academy.
Later, the chief guest gave away prizes to the winners. Midshipman Fazal Qadeer was awarded the coveted Sword of Honour for his overall best performance. Midshipman Syed Mubashir Shah won the Academy Dirk. Lieutenant M Bilal Asif, Cadet Arsalan Tariq, MSC Perera (from Sri Lanka) and Cadet Muhammad Shahid (SSC) were given the Quaid-i-Azam Gold Medal, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gold Medal, Chief of the Naval Staff Gold Medal and Commandant’s Gold Medal respectively.
The ceremony was attended by a large number of senior military officers, ambassadors, defence attaches of various countries, civil dignitaries and parents of passing out midshipmen and cadets.