RAWALPINDI, April 28: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Monday that a strong defence and a stable economy were important for ensuring the sovereignty and security of the country.

Speaking at the Baloch Regimental Centre at the installation ceremony of Lt-Gen Syed Parwez Shahid as colonel commandant of the Baloch Regiment, he said the country had an impregnable defence and due to concerted efforts the economy was fast improving.

He claimed that the policies followed in the past three years had ensured national security, safeguarded strategic assets and resulted in an economic turnaround.

He said the international and regional geopolitical environment demanded that all decisions should be taken prudently, without emotionalism and in the best interest of the country. He paid tribute to the armed forces.

The president and the outgoing colonel commandant, Jamshaid Gulzar, pinned the badges of rank on the shoulders of Lt-Gen Shahid and presented him the regimental cap to formally install him as the 14th colonel commandant of the regiment.—APP