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| August 14, 2005 | Sunday | Rajab 8, 1426 |
Nation urged to blaze new trail of progress
ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in their Independence Day messages called upon the nation to renew their efforts to make Pakistan “a progressive, democratic and Islamic welfare state” and do everything possible to achieve the objectives of independence.
President Musharraf appealed to the masses to join hands in defeating obscurantism existing in the fringes of society and make the country as dynamic as its founder had envisioned.
While greeting the nation on the country’s 59th Independence Day, the president reaffirmed the government’s resolve to providing basic health and education facilities to the people by 2007 on the back of strong economic growth achieved in the last six years, which have been a watershed in the history of the country.
He enjoined people to have pride in themselves as Pakistanis and come forward with their due role in addressing obscurantism.
President Musharraf also urged people to pledge anew to adhere to the “guiding principles of unity, faith and discipline” and strive for making Pakistan a truly modern, dynamic, progressive and democratic Islamic welfare state in accordance with the aspirations of the Muslims of South Asia and ideals of the founders of the nation.
“A major reason that we had yet to realise our tremendous potential stemmed from a lack of strategic direction in the past.
Alhamdolillah, the last six years have been a watershed in the history of the country, he noted.
“A strategic direction was given in almost every sphere of governance of the country, the results of which are clearly visible on ground for all to see.
“Today, the ‘Pakistan Model’ is being used as a reference point by international development organizations.”
President Musharraf said Pakistan has been put on the path of sustainable democracy.
The main focus of the government now is to accelerate the transfer of economic benefits to the people, he said.
OBJECTIVES OF INDEPENDENCE: In his message, Mr Aziz said everyone should resolve to learn from past mistakes and work ceaselessly to build the homeland worthy of the ideals for which it was created.
The prime minister said 58 years ago, under the able leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Muslims of the subcontinent won a separate homeland after innumerable hardships and sacrifices.
“On this day, I would also urge my countrymen to pause and think whether we have, both individually and collectively, done everything possible to achieve the objectives of independence,” he said.
The prime minister said, “We should resolve to learn from our mistakes and work ceaselessly to build this homeland worthy of the ideals for which it was created.”
He said: “We must not also forget our Islamic heritage and ideology that formed the basis of Pakistan.”—APP
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