KARACHI, Nov 14: The Tehreek-i-Istiqlal has urged India and Pakistan to sign a no-war pact so that billions of rupees which are being spent on defence could be saved and utilised for the betterment of the people in the two countries whose majority is deprived of basic facilities and was living below the poverty-line.

These views were expressed by TI president Rehmat Wardag on Friday at the Iftar-dinner party hosted by him for political leaders and social workers at a local hotel.

Mr Wardag stressed the need for taking practical steps to resolve the pressing problems of the people which include unemployment, price-hike and lawlessness.

He said the policies of the present setup, which were a continuation of the policies of Gen Pervez Musharraf’s three years rule had resulted in improving economy and raising the foreign reserves to the level of $ over 11 billion which had put the country on the road to progress.

Mr Wardag advized the opposition parties not to think of launching any movement against the present setup as the derailment of the democratic order would not be interest of the people.

Replying to a question, he said that the future water needs demand that water storage projects, including the Kalabagh Dam, be launched.