ISLAMABAD Aug 24: Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Tuesday said Pakistan had become a formidable state by attaining the status of a nuclear power, almost diminishing the chances of a war breaking out with India.

The government, he said, was sincerely endeavouring to resolve the issue of Kashmir. "I am of the firm belief that the supreme sacrifices of Kashmiris will not go waste and the issue will be resolved according to the will of Kashmiri people," he said.

In his brief address to the nation on the electronic media, Chaudry Shujaat mentioned the pledge he had made at the time of taking over as prime minister (61 days ago) about taking steps against maligning others and the levelling of baseless allegations and taking practical steps for the promotion of Islamic values.

He said parliament had made a legislation on the levelling of baseless allegations whereas instructions had been issued for changes in the syllabus of educational institutions, especially that of religious schools, to ensure projection of Islamic values.

The prime minister said he was thankful to Allah who had bestowed on him the office of prime minister and today he was delivering his last speech as premier. "I am not here to praise myself or to recount my government's successes, because one thing has always been in my mind that every thing including power is temporary except Allah Almighty who is imperishable," said the prime minister.

History, he said, was the best guide which told us that moral values were more powerful than political might. If you are morally strong, you cannot become politically weak, he added.

"Our struggle is two-pronged. First for morality and second for good governance". On the moral front, we have to struggle against hypocrisy, injustice, falsehood and fraud and to work tirelessly for bringing about inter-provincial harmony by removing hatred from the heart.

Towards the good governance, our struggle is against lawlessness, poverty, intolerance, illiteracy, illness, inflation and unemployment. The prime minister said: "Inshaallah, I will base my political gains on these principles so as true democratic values are promoted in the country."

He said live and let live was the basis of democracy and also the lesson of history which told that use of force could not solve any problem. Political issues should be resolved politically.

The 21st Century, he said, was the century of economic challenges and the government was planning to face them by alleviating poverty, controlling price hike and unemployment to save people from their negative affects.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf had given a seven-point agenda to the nation after coming into power, and revival of national and international investor' confidence was on top of that, he said, adding that next government's performance would be judged from the economic progress of the country.

Nomination of Shaukat Aziz for the office of prime minister, he said, was part of that thought. About terrorism, the prime minister said it was the biggest curse of present age, and condemned it.

"Terrorism became a source of personal grief for me and my family when my father Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi fell victim to a terrorist attack on Sept 25, 1981," he said.

The prime minister said: "We talk of peace, but it cannot be achieved unless justice is delivered to the people. Social injustice in fact is a big fear for society and humanity."

"In the end, I want to give my simple message that you should work for the country with good intentions in whatever capacity you are, adopt the principle of live and let live and leave the rest to Allah Almighty who is the biggest power."