January 06, 2008	Sunday	Zilhaj 26, 1428

PESHAWAR, Jan 5: Peace is a prerequisite for national progress and vital for initiating big structural development projects and improved services in the social sectors, says NWFP Chief Minister Shamsul Mulk.

He made the observation while presiding over a presentation that called for involving people as stakeholders for peace in the province. The meeting was attended by provincial minister Mohammad Azam Khan and information secretary Imtiaz Hussain Gillani.

The chief minister said that without peace, no society could survive, and added: “We all have a visible stake in peace.”

He said the Pukhtun loved their traditions, including Pukhtunwali. He was of the view that the institutions that had in-built solutions to most problems should be strengthened.

He said that in the present age, all institutions and all affairs should be de-politicised.

The country, he said, was passing through a difficult phase that demanded “our collective and individual efforts to respond to issues honestly”. “Collectively, we should find a reasonable solution to the present mess,” he said.

“We have to analyse our options and work out a collective response and win back peace for our people and for our province.”

Stressing the need for raising public awareness, Mr Shams said that it was vital for helping them decide what was good for them. He said that the people wanted peace and the government should make all out efforts to bring them peace. However, people should help the government in this regard.

He said: “We need to build our own defences against our collective enemies.”