November 1, 2001	Thursday	Shaba’an 14, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 31: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said here on Wednesday that his government’s principled support to the international effort for combating terrorism has helped Pakistan achieve four major important national objectives including assuring integrity and security of Pakistan.

Presiding over the cabinet meeting, he listed these objectives as integrity and security of Pakistan, safety of its strategic assets, avoiding any damage to the Kashmir cause and rehabilitation of the national economy. The meeting was also attended by the provincial governors.

Gen Musharraf emphasized that the diplomatic and economic gains accruing from Pakistan’s principled policy far outweighed the material losses it was suffering during the current crisis in the region.

According to informed sources, the president said Pakistan has not gone for any quid pro quo or sought any deal for supporting the Americans to combat terrorism. He said he was happy to note that there was a growing realisation that Pakistan should be fully compensated through new access to markets as well as generous bilateral and multilateral support.

The US government has lifted the remaining sanctions against Pakistan, with Congress allowing President Bush to extend any financial support to Pakistan. There were reports that US was considering to offer one billion dollar to Pakistan. Washington and its coalition partners have already committed $800 million cash grant beside $600 million for Afghan refugees.

He said the people of Pakistan fully appreciated the efforts being made by the government to steer the country safely through these difficult times and prove to the world the responsible and progressive character of Pakistan. Pakistanis, he said, felt secure in the knowledge of being led by a government that believed in Pakistan first and everything else next.

Referring to his meetings with leaders from different countries who have visited Pakistan in the past weeks, the president said he took satisfaction in the fact that there was a broad understanding and appreciation of Pakistan’s point of view on the current situation. He said a consensus was also visible on the issue of future political dispensation for Afghanistan and the rehabilitation of the country and its people. He said there was also a general consensus amongst the world leaders on the need for broad based multi-ethnic government in Afghanistan to manage the affairs of that country. He said the international community owed it to the people of Afghanistan as any political vacuum would lead to anarchy and atrocities against innocent people.

About the nature and the extent of the current action by the international coalition in Afghanistan, President Musharraf said it was in the interest of everyone that the operation comes to an early end. He, however, added that the conclusion of the current campaign depended on a number of factors. The president hoped that the miseries of the innocent Afghans would come to an early end as they have suffered more than enough over a period of two decades and deserved every help and support.

The president informed the Cabinet about his meetings with the German Chancellor, the Dutch Prime Minister and the Turkish President. He also informed the ministers about his recent interaction on telephone with the president of UAE and the discussions he held with the visiting foreign minister of Saudi Arabia. The president described these meetings and exchange of views as extremely helpful and encouraging for Pakistan.

The Cabinet approved a draft ordinance with a view to streamlining the working of commercial courts. Under the new ordinance a commercial court shall consist of a chairman who is or has been either a session judge or a high court judge and two members to be appointed by the federal government from amongst:-

a) The officers of federal government not below BS-19 to be nominated by the ministry of commerce and

b) Businessmen or executives whose names appear on the panel of such persons to be drawn by the federal government in consultation with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

The Cabinet granted ex post facto approval to an agreement on merchant shipping between the Government of Pakistan and the Government of Syrian Arab Republic. The agreement aims at strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation in the field of maritime sector.

The Cabinet reviewed the celebration programme of the year 2001 as the year of Quaid and selected a portrait of the Quaid for display in offices, schools, colleges and public places. The portrait also carries a message of the Quaid.

The Cabinet directed the ministry of culture to go ahead with the celebration programmes already approved by the Cabinet.