ISLAMABAD, Jan 25: Chairman National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM) Dr Samar Mubarkmand says Pakistan will not be provoked by the Indian missile tests.

He was talking to the newsmen after the investiture ceremony of the student council of Islamabad Model College For Girls, F- 7/4 (IMCG), here on Saturday.

Dr Samar, who had successfully led the team that conducted six nuclear explosions in response to Indian tests in May 1998, said Pakistan had its own defence requirements and would not retaliate against Indian missile tests.

He said: “By the grace of almighty Allah the country’s defence is in safe hands, and there is no need to worry about Indian threats, which is mere war-mongering.”

Dr Samar, who is also supervising the indigenously-built Shaheen series of missiles, said the country’s defence had reached a level where no one could dare cast an evil eye on its territorial integrity.

Earlier, during his address as chief guest on the occasion, he urged the new office-bearers of the student council of the college to honestly work for the welfare of their colleagues.

“You people are future of this country, and the oath you have taken is not empty words but a complete code of life to make yourselves a disciplined nation in future,” Dr Samar said.

Referring to the Chaghi nuclear tests, Dr Samar said it was the time when the entire world was pressurising Pakistan not to go nuclear, but the confidence and trust that the nation reposed in its local scientists beckoned them to go ahead.

Encouraging the girl students, Dr Samar, said at NESCOM a number of women scientific officers were contributing to strengthening the defence of the country and the field was quite open to every potential research student.

He also administered oath to the new office-bearers of the college students council.

In her welcome speech, the college principal, Ms Rukhsana Tufail, made a brief presentation on the activities, which had been organised over the last one year.

She said the students of the college had observed year 2002 as Iqbal’s year under the auspices of the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE). It may be added here that the government had announced year 2002 as Iqbal’s year and constituted a special committee to observe it around the country.

Ms Tufail informed the gathering that a number of new extracurricular activities had been started at the college including the setting up of new societies such as economics, Urdu, sports etc to provide students a congenial atmosphere for their better grooming.