April 29, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 22, 1429

ISLAMABAD, April 28: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that a multi-pronged strategy is being evolved to confront terrorism and extremism in an effective manner.

Talking to a US congressional delegation here on Monday, the prime minister reiterated his government’s resolve to fight terrorism and extremism in all its forms and manifestations.

He said the government would pursue both long- and short-term initiatives, including political dialogue, socio-economic development and administrative measures, to address the issue.

He said terrorism was a global phenomenon and the world community had to develop a collective approach and address the root causes which stemmed from socio-economic disparity and unresolved political disputes.

He said Pakistan had been consistently fighting the menace and it had sacrificed a lot, including assassination of its leader Benazir Bhutto.

The prime minister said economic empowerment of people in areas bordering Afghanistan was key to addressing the issue of extremism in the region.

He said the government had eradicated poppy cultivation by providing economic incentives.

The prime minister said Pakistan accorded a high priority to its strategic relationship with the United States and was keen to expand relations in political, diplomatic, economic, defence and security sectors. Pakistan was also eager to enhance cooperation in the fields of education, health, energy, science and technology. He said US President George W. Bush had assured him of Washington’s full support.

He said the people of the country had given a clear mandate to progressive and democratic forces which had formed coalition governments at the centre and in the provinces. This augured well for democracy and for all institutions of the state.

He said the country was facing serious problems of food and energy security, but the government would solve them on a war footing and it had started working on various initiatives.

He said that about 50 per cent of the country’s electricity needs were being met through contracts signed with independent power producers by the previous government of the Pakistan People’s Party.

Replying to a question, the prime minister said the government was trying to improve the efficiency of the existing plants, promote energy conservation, use alternative sources of energy and set up new plants.

The delegation promised complete support of the US Congress for the new government.—APP