MULTAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Wednesday the government was saddened by the incidents of terrorism in Quetta and Peshawar as the purpose of such incidents was to divert attention of the government from resolving the issues of the masses.
Speaking to the media after attending a ceremony with German Ambassador Bernhard Schlagheck here on Wednesday, he said some forces did not want peace in Pakistan.
“The federal government has directed the provincial governments to remain alert. There is no doubt that facilitators of terrorists are there and the incidents of terrorism in Pakistan can’t be occurred without the help of facilitators. The nation had overcome terrorism in the past and will also overcome today,” he said. He said terrorism had damaged Pakistan’s economy. He said there was no doubt inflation exists but the government was also making all-out efforts to overcome it.
“The decision to increase the quota of flour mills has been taken. The steps are also being taken to reduce the flour prices in Sindh. To end the crisis of flour and sugar, both commodities are being imported,” he said. He said the government was devising investment-friendly policies as the importance of Pakistan had increased because of the CPEC.
“We are focusing on economic diplomacy to a give a boost to the foreign investment in the country and have invited the ambassadors of European countries to the foreign office,” he said. He said Pakistan played an important role in the Afghan peace process.
German Ambassador Mr Schlagheck said the world was fighting coronavirus but despite this all, Pakistan and Germany kept the economic activities going on. Later, while reacting to the statement of former National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq regarding Kashmir issue in parliament, the foreign minister said he was not expecting such statement from former speaker.
“Whatever Ayaz Sadiq said is the contrary to the facts. Such irresponsible statements are being given only to get political mileage. Irresponsible people are issuing irresponsible statements. No Pakistani can compromise on Kashmir issue...,” he said.
Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2020
