Pakistan wants peace in Afghanistan: governor

LAHORE : Governor Ch Sarwar has said Pakistan is with peace and India is with terrorism. The governor said this while addressing columnists and journalists in the Governor's House here on Sunday.

“Pakistan has wholeheartedly worked for peace in Afghanistan, but India wants instability in Afghanistan. Foreign policy of Pakistan is a manifestation of national desires. On a tour of the United States, I briefed American leadership on our role for peace in Afghanistan and the region. It helped them in understanding Pakistani version. It will prove beneficial for Pakistan. Everyone appreciates our role for peace. Work on 1,500 projects of Punjab Aab-e-Pak Authority is progressing. Till December, clean drinking water to Rs7.5 million will be provided. As a chancellor I appointed 18 vice-chancellors on merit in Punjab. No action, except merit, will be tolerated in universities,” the governor said. He said that Pakistan was not supporting or opposing any group in Afghanistan as the decision on Afghanistan was now to be taken by the Afghani people. Bullet cannot become successor to ballot in Afghanistan. We stand by peace and we will continue to play our role for peace because peace in Afghanistan will benefit Pakistan more than any other country in the region. Pakistan has been sacrificing the most for the war on terror, Sarwar added.

Talking about the visit to the United States, he said successful meetings have been held with the US officials there. He said he briefed the US officials on Pakistan's sacrifices against terrorism and for the role of peace.

“I appreciated the Pakistani and Indian Sikh communities in the United States who are on the same page and the Sikh community has always stood by Pakistan's position on other issues including Kashmir and I have urged overseas Pakistanis to do full politics in the United States. Inshallah success will be their destiny,” he said.

Replying to a question, Ch Sarwar said that India has always been working on the agenda of destabilising Pakistan and everyone knows that India has a hand behind the conspiracies against peace in Pakistan. I have no doubt that today India is supporting those who spread terrorism and anarchy on the issue of Afghanistan and it is also a fact that not Pakistan on the diplomatic front but India is alone today and Pakistan is moving forward successfully on the diplomatic front, he said. Replying to a question on Punjab Water Authority, he said, “Unfortunately we have been facing difficulties in the Punjab Water Authority due to bureaucratic hurdles but today the government bureaucracy and the Punjab Water Authority are on the same page. Work has started on 1,500 projects to provide clean drinking water to people in all cities and villages of Punjab including Lahore without any political distinction’’.