Says we won’t allow our land to be used against any other country
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar on Wednesday termed Musharraf a “usurper” for destroying the country and said that the leadership of Pakistan, whether civil or military, is committed to meet challenge arising out of recent wave of terrorist acts and no safe havens for terrorists would be allowed across the border or inside the country. He added that the country concerned should itself take action or Pakistan will do what is necessary.
He said that the military courts would be extended as the sunset clause had resulted into halting its operation since January 7, 2017. “Our civil and military leadership is committed to conveying this message: “We will neither allow our land to be used against any other country nor allow others lands to use their territory against us. Pakistan will take action for ensuring its security. The civil and military leadership will not allow safe havens across the border or inside the country and action will be taken against them,” said Ishaq Dar while launching project for providing services of 3G in Kohistan district of KP organised jointly by Ministry of IT and Telenor Pakistan here on Wednesday.
The minister also lambasted PTI leader Imran Khan and said that they were ready to be held answerable and accountable for last three governments despite the fact that they had faced the usurper Musharraf. The usurper used all means and brutal power but miserably failed to prove anything against them.
He reminded the PTI his advice to shun petty politics for the sake of the country. He said that he wished and prayed that the PTI people should understand what the country required from them at this critical juncture.
“Our leadership is clean and clear. We have faced accountability for last three governments even though they had faced accountability during the era of ‘usurper’ Musharraf,” he said and added that once again certain elements could not digest the progress of Pakistan and they were again out to undermine the process of progress.
He said that Pakistan had spent hundreds of billions to tackle the menace of extremism and for reviving the economy and the military courts would be extended to meet the grim challenges in the wake of recent terrorist attacks.
Dar said that the performance of the present government was being acknowledged by credible institutions of the world. He added that the government was committed to financial and digital inclusion and we are determined to achieve this too.
The government, he said, would utilise Rs12 billion for ensuring connectivity into un-served population and areas of the country. He said that PM Nawaz Sharif launched cross border optical fiber connectivity between Pakistan and China and the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) had recently approved establishment of IT Park with an estimated cost of Rs9.2 billion for which Korea’s Exim Bank high-ups were expected to visit Islamabad soon.
About reports of huge discrepancy that supposedly exist between official figures of IT exports and unofficial figures, he said that the official IT exports stood at $600 million against non-official estimates of $1.5 billion to $2 billion. The potential is huge and Pakistan can compete with neighbouring countries, he added.
He recalled that he had declared Awami Markaz building which was constructed during the PPP led regime, as Technology Park during the last tenure of PML-N in 1998-99 but here people possessed short memories and they forgot many things. Now the stage is set to achieve the status of 32nd best economy of the world by 2030 and could confidently look forward to 16th position by 2050, putting behind Canada and other economies.
On the occasion, Minister of State for IT Anusha Rahman said that the whole country would be connected with 3G services till early 2018 except Fata areas. She said that the federal government was undertaking development projects for ensuring connectivity with broadband by utilising Rs20 billion alone in KP and in Balochistan Rs10 billion.
She said that the connectivity project in Kohistan district of KP would serve around one million people. She said that Telenor Pakistan would complete this project within two years period.
