QUETTA: Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif has said that the army is not only extending assistance to the provincial government in maintaining law and order but is also playing an important role in development of Balochistan.

Addressing the passing out parade of new recruits in the army from Balochistan at the EME Centre here on Tuesday, Gen Sharif said that the country’s prosperity was linked with the development of Balochistan.

He said that every Balochistan citizen was the country’s pride and the people of the province had realised that their future was linked with the country.

Gen Raheel said the army was the symbol of national unity and joining of the institution by Balochistan youths in large numbers confirmed that the youths of the province loved the army. The army chief said that he was confident that the Balochistan people would defeat a small group of terrorists who wanted to mislead them.

About the ongoing development activities in the province, Gen Sharif said that the army was contributing in this field, particularly in education, health and communication sectors.

Gen Raheel also referred to the establishment of Sui education city, medical and technical institutions in Sui and Chamalang areas besides under-construction hundreds of kilometres roads in Sohrab, Bisima, Shahdatkot, Mastung, Gwadar and Chaman areas.

CHIEF MINISTER: Speaking on the occasion, Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said that national unity was the only weapon to face internal and external threats to the country and expressed the hope that new army recruits from Balochistan would play their role in defending the motherland.

The chief minister said that the nation was facing challenges of terrorism across the country in general, and Fata and Balochistan in particular, and said that “we can foil designs of these evil forces only through our unity”.

While welcoming the joining of army by Balochistan youths in a large number, the chief minister said it was a positive sign and expressed the hope that these youths would defend the country like youths of other parts of the country.

Dr Baloch said that the army and other security forces were ready to face internal and external challenges and the provincial government would continue to extend them full support to maintain peace in the province.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2014