ISLAMABAD, Dec 29: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday said with a strong, stable and robust economy, reliable defence and credible foreign policy, Pakistan could play a role of "anchor of peace" in the region to ensure progress and prosperity.

Addressing the annual dinner of the Association of Retired Ambassadors at the Foreign Office, he said diplomats had played an important role in projecting the image of Pakistan in an effective manner.

The prime minister said there was still a need to promote the "soft image" of Pakistan in the world to counter the negative perceptions projected against it, particularly after 9/11.

Appreciating the role of senior diplomats, Mr Aziz said officials of the Foreign Office should play a proactive role to promote the vision of "enlightened moderation" presented by President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

He said the experience of retired diplomats should be utilized by the Foreign Office to prepare comprehensive and effective foreign policies for the projection of the country in a better way.

He said economic diplomacy had become another important element in strengthening bilateral relations in the world, adding only economically developed and strong state could have more impact on international affairs.

He said world leaders were now spending more time on economic diplomacy as it was an important element to further strengthen relations between the countries. The prime minister said due to liberal and strong economic policies adopted in the last five years, Pakistan had come out of the "life support system" and was breathing normally in the economic sector.

He said besides routine ways of diplomacy, economic and field diplomacy had become another important elements in the world, therefore, Pakistan had to prepare policies keeping in view these factors.

He said due to globalization, the working of the diplomats had been changed and instead of waiting for "diplomat bags", today information on all the world issues were available instantly for reaction and comment.

Mr Aziz also announced a grant of Rs1 million for the association to promote its activities for the benefit of young diplomats. President of the association Khalid Mahmood said the ARA had been providing guidelines to the officials on all the international issues.

Appreciating the economic reforms of the government, he said these achievements had played an important role in the projection of Pakistan as a developed nation. -APP