MULTAN, April 9: Former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Friday it was a moment to ponder for the military and political leadership of the country that the White House was levelling allegations against it despite its 10-year long sacrifices in war against terror.

He was speaking to a gathering after inauguration of the 697th Urs of Hazrat Shah Rukn-i-Alam here on Saturday. The Makhdoom is “Sajjada Nasheen” of the shrine.

He said more Pakistanis had sacrificed their lives compared to the Afghan people in the war on terror. “Terrorism is against the spirit of Islam and such acts are defaming Pakistan,” he said while stressing the need to promote peace and culture of tolerance.

He said saints and mystics propagated the message of love, harmony and brotherhood. Hope and optimism were what they preached during their lives, he added.

He expressed satisfaction over the turnout at the shrine despite security concerns. INDUSTRIAL POLICY:

Federal Secretary for Industry and Production Abdul Ghaffar Somroo has said his ministry is going to introduce an industrial policy in the light of recommendations of the chambers of commerce and industry and other stakeholders to meet the export target of $25 billion.

At a meeting of executive committee of the MCCI on Saturday, the secretary said a new industrial policy envisaged two-pronged strategy of export promotion and import replacement.

“The focus would be on maximum use of indigenous primary products and human resources. The policy would lay emphasis on employment generation, increasing productivity, product diversification, competitiveness and moving towards knowledge-based hi-tech industry,” he said.