April 27, 2007	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 09, 1428

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RAWALPINDI, April 26: The final production batch of Hatf-III Ghaznavi missiles was handed over to the Army Strategic Force Command (ASFC).

Indigenously-produced Hatf-III Ghaznavi ballistic missiles, with a range of 290 kms, were taken over by the second missile group of Pakistan Army’s Strategic Force Command.

The solid fuel Ghaznavi ballistic missile system was successfully test fired as part of a training exercise in December last year by troops of ASFC.

It now forms an integral component of Pakistan’s strategic land delivery systems, which also include the Shaheen series and the Ghauri intermediate range ballistic missiles.

The handing over ceremony was attended by Vice Chief of Army Staff General Ahsan Saleem Hyat and senior scientists and military officers.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said that Pakistan would never compromise on its nuclear programme and its minimum deterrence needs.

He said that Pakistan was a fully established nuclear power with its minimum deterrence needs successfully achieved and its capability operationalised through a variety of delivery means.

The prime minister said that Pakistan’s nuclear programme was a success story without a parallel in history.

He said the government was fully committed to providing all requisite resources to achieve the goal of consolidating our objective of credible minimum deterrence and reiterated that there would never be a compromise on our strategic programme.

The prime minister highlighted Pakistan’s needs in the nuclear energy sector and expressed confidence that with the passage of time and with positive engagement with the nuclear suppliers group, it would succeed in earning cooperation for its nuclear power programme, which was an essential economic need.

He said the government had approved an ambitious nuclear power programme for generating 8,800MW of electricity by 2030, and it would spare no effort in convincing the world that it must cooperate with Pakistan in this field.