April 3, 2003	Thursday	Muharram 30, 1424

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KARACHI, April 2: Pakistan is a peaceful nation but it will give an appropriate reply should anyone cast an evil eye on it, President Pervez Musharraf reiterated here on Wednesday.

Speaking at a briefing on Pakistan Navy’s annual wargame Shamsheer-i-Bahr, the president said the government was cognizant of navy’s needs and acquisition of frigates was being given due priority.

He pledged support for other development plans of the maritime sector and referred to the progress of coastal highway and Gwadar port in this regard.

Earlier, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (operations) Rear Admiral Iftikhar Ahmad Rao said this year’s exercise was carried out on a wider canvas and included greater participation by Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force which augured well for inter-service cooperation in joint operations.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Shahid Karimullah emphasized that lessons derived from the exercise should be exploited to enhance navy’s preparedness to defend the sea frontiers at any cost.—APP