PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Friday it was the government’s top priority to ensure establishment of peace because it was vital to make progress, prosperity and development in real terms.

“We are striving to establish peace across the country as it will bring about prosperity, attract investment and help check poverty, unemployment and illiteracy,” he said while addressing a ceremony held in Peshawar to distribute cheques among the families of rainstorm victims.

Know more: Govt, army fulfilled promises made to Waziristan affectees: PM

The prime minister said he had just come from Khajuri checkpost in Mirali area of North Waziristan where he met internally displaced persons (IDPs) who were returning homes after spending about one year in camps because of the Zarb-i-Azb military operation. He said the sanctuaries of terrorists had been destroyed and eliminated in North Waziristan and peace restored there.

The prime minister said the Karachi operation was part of the government’s efforts to eliminate terrorism from the country. “The people of Karachi are now more satisfied as the incidents of street crimes, terrorism, extortion and targeted killing have decreased. The lights of Karachi are being restored,” he said, adding that with peace returning, a marked reduction in incidents of terrorism across the country was witnessed.

Referring to the government’s development agenda, Mr Sharif said the entire region would benefit from fast development of infrastructure and construction of roads and motorways network in the country. He mentioned the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project in this respect and said all the provinces as well as Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan would benefit from it.

He said road networks would be established from Gwadar to Khunjerab and the former would be developed as an international city and there would be a lot of development in Balochistan.

The prime minister said LNG (liquefied natural gas) would be used to generate electricity which would help eliminate loadshedding. “For achieving all this, peace is an important factor,” he said and vowed to tackle all challenges, including terrorism and energy problems.

He said Pakistan had rendered immense and unmatched sacrifices in the war against terrorism and lost lives of thousands of innocent people, civil and armed forces personnel and even political figures. Besides, he added, economy had suffered a lot and incurred losses of $100 billion over the past few years.

The prime minister stressed that focusing on internal and external matters was important to achieve success. He highlighted the importance of good relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan and said the two countries should enhance cooperation to fight and eliminate terrorism from the region.

Expressing grief and sorrow over the losses and damages caused by the mini-cyclone in Peshawar division, he said the entire nation stood by the affected families in this hour of trials and tribulations. “We all equally share our grief and sorrow with the families who lost their near and dear ones in the natural calamity.”

The prime minister said cash compensation was no alternative to the life, but it could help soothe sufferings and miseries of the victims to some extent. He praised the provincial authorities for relief and rescue efforts after the rain-storms.

Earlier, Peshawar Division Commissioner Munir Azam said the mini-cyclone, which played havoc in Peshawar, Charsadda and Nowshera districts, had claimed 49 lives, injured 267 people and damaged 8,827 houses and other infrastructure.

He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government also provided relief, including medical treatment, to the affected families.

Later, Prime Minister Sharif distributed compensation cheques of Rs500,000 each among 24 heirs of victims of the thunderstorm.

KP Governor Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, Minister for States and Frontier Regions retired Lt Gen Abdul Qadir Baloch, Political Secretary to the PM Dr Asif Kirmani, Benazir Income Support Programme Chairperson Marvi Memon and parliamentarians attended the ceremony.

IDPS’ RETURN: Earlier, addressing the IDPs of North Waziristan upon their return to their native areas, Prime Minister Sharif lauded their sacrifices and said the government would provide all resources for their rehabilitation in their areas.

“We will provide resources for the reconstruction of your houses. It is our duty as you have shown courage and tolerance and given sacrifices for the establishment of peace in the area.”

The process of IDPs’ return to their homes has been continuing since March.

The prime minister said schools, colleges and hospitals would be constructed in the area so that local people have health and education facilities on doorsteps.

He praised the services and sacrifices of the officers and jawans of the armed forces for eliminating terrorism, establishing peace in tribal areas and looking after the IDPs during their temporary stay in camps.

He said the government and the armed forces would ensure security of the people returning to their homes as well as their areas. He said he would also visit North Waziristan soon and meet the people of the area.

Later, the prime minister distributed gifts among the IDPs who were returning to their homes.

Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif was present on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2015

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