RAWALPINDI, Jan 11: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has said Pakistan is moving forward on the path of sustainable democracy as firm foundations have been laid for real and participatory democracy.

"A system of real democracy is in place in Pakistan with the full participation of people who have been empowered like never before in the country's history," he remarked, while talking to a visiting Canadian parliamentary delegation that called on him Tuesday morning.

Referring to the local government system, the president informed the Canadian legislators that participation of people for their socio-economic development at the grass-roots level has bolstered a sense of participation and accountability.

President Musharraf also informed the visiting delegation about the unprecedented freedom of the media, saying the country enjoys freedom of expression as is evident from the emergence of a dozen new TV and numerous radio channels on the Pakistani horizon.

"That was not at all the case about five years back. In fact, the country had just one state television and now the electronic media is free to express diversity of views," he said.

Musharraf also dwelt on the economic turnaround brought about by consistently pursued policies in the last five years. "We are following a holistic strategy to pass the benefits of economic gains on the common man, a series of initiatives are poised to prompt industrial growth as well as greater agricultural output.

We are focusing on reducing poverty through job creation as well as through micro-credit schemes." Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons Peter Miliken thanked President Gen Musharraf for the opportunity to call on him and expressed appreciation regarding the democratic reforms in Pakistan. -APP