WAH, Jan 10: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Monday that the country's defence and stability were the government's top priority and efforts were under way to make Pakistan economically prosperous and self-sufficient in defence production.

"Safeguarding country's sovereignty and stability is our top priority and we will make every sacrifice for it," he said while addressing officers and workers of the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) during a visit.

Mr Aziz said Pakistan had no aggressive designs against anyone but it was the country's fundamental right to make its defence impregnable against any aggression. "We will not let any country cast an evil eye on Pakistan," the prime minister said and added that all resources would be provided to make country's defence strong.

The prime minister said that country's defence did not depend on modern weapons alone and required a strong economy to achieve the goal. "We must make progress in other fields.

Every stratum of society and each and every part of the country has to be prosperous," he said and added that the government was engaged in a nation-building process keeping in view these facts and aspirations of the people.

The prime minister said the prudent policies and their sincere implementation had steered the country into a phase of development which was the starting-point of becoming a developed nation.

Saying that Pakistan was the only Muslim country with nuclear capability, the prime minister vowed that efforts would be made to strengthen its nuclear and conventional capabilities.

"The policies and steps we are taking are in the national interest and not for any personal gains," he added. The prime minister said that it was a matter of pride for the country that the POF was not only meeting the country's defence requirements but also that of around 29 other countries as well. The POF exported arms worth Rs1,130 million during the past three years and had recently received orders of Rs3.6 billion. - APP