Musharraf on LB Polls: Moderates have beaten Extremists
By Saad Mansoor - Pakistan Times Staff Correspondent

KARACHI: President General Pervez Musharraf Friday said local bodies elections resulted in the victory of moderates and the defeat of extremists all over Pakistan.

He was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of “Askari Park” at the site of old Sabzi Mandi. The president congratulated the Karachiites for what he described as an excellent manner in which the local elections were held here.

Also present on the occasion were Sindh Governor Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan, Chief Minister Dr. Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Corps Commander, Lt Gen Syed Athar Ali, Federal Minister Ports and Shipping Babar Khan Ghouri, Chairman Senate Committees on Defence and Information, Senator Nisar A. Memon, Provincial Ministers, senior provincial government and army officials.

Musharraf praised the Sindh chief minister, governor, the corps commander and the Rangers for their efforts in making the local government elections a success. “The outcome of the elections has proved to be a victory for moderates and a defeat to the extremists”, said the President.

Elections in the NWFP

Commenting on the elections in the NWFP, the president said the moderates had won there as well and added that the same was true for the whole of Pakistan. “This is an excellent outcome of the local government elections and I commend the people of Karachi for peaceful elections here”.

Musharraf said, that he was sure that whoever is the future nazim of Karachi, would rise to the occasion and through his efforts and dedication would ensure that Karachi is transformed into a beautiful city.

He pointed out that Karachi needs improved roads, safe drinking water in greater quantities, improved electricity and cleanliness. He assured the Karachiites that projects in progress and the future projects of the city government will go a long way in addressing all these issues.

On-going Projects

About the on-going projects, the president said, that the under-construction Northern Bypass will be completed very soon, the Lyari Expressway project is facing some problems but it is moving forward and will be completed, the 100 MGD water project is in the pipeline and is to be completed next year.

He said as far as cleanliness is concerned, the governor and the CM are aware and are looking into this pressing issue. He was sure that people of Karachi would get safe drinking water very soon.

He assured that the electricity system in Karachi would also be improved within a year. He promised water, cleaner environment, better roads and electricity for the people of Karachi, who, in his opinion deserve a better deal than what they had.

President General Pervez Musharraf said Friday that Pakistan must establish oil refineries at Gawadar to refine oil of Gulf countries for international market.

Large Oil Terminal

“If we can develop a large oil terminal and set up oil refineries at newly coming up Gawadar Port, located at the mouth of the Gulf, we can refine crude coming from the Gulf and going out to the world market”, President Musharraf noted while speaking at the inauguration of $ 480 million, 817 kilometres white oil pipeline from Port Qasim to Mahmood Kot, built by Pak-Arab Pipeline Company (PAPCO).

The President said the world oil prices were rising due to lack of refining capacity and not because of production shortage. “There is a big and increasing gap between demand and supply of refined oil. Therefore, I think, Pakistan must go very strongly towards establishing oil refineries”, he noted.

It will also serve the strategic interests of the country, he observed. He said Gawadar Port has been completed and it will be commissioned in June 2006. The port is ready but we are dredging it to 15 metres depth for accommodating larger vessels.

President Musharraf said it was an ideal situation for Pakistan. “A similar pipeline can be laid from Gawadar to upcountry to transport oil products as a feasible proposition”, he observed.

PAPCO

He said the government will complete all the initiated projects. Referring to PAPCO, he said that he was associated with this project since its inception when Pakistan signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with former Chinese premier Zhu Rongi (in 2002) for this pipeline project.

“I personally, do not believe in initiating projects which do not see the light of the day. We are initiating the projects and completing them”, President Pervez Musharraf added.

He said dozens of mega projects were on track. Some of them have been completed and others will be completed within the coming year. “I assure the nation that whatever mega developmental projects that we launch will be completed,” he said.

The President commended the efforts of PARCO, Shell Pakistan, PSO and Caltex for this joint venture of great importance and strategic significance to Pakistan, saying it will give great boost to the economy of the country. It is the most secure means of transporting oil products to up country which consumes 60 percent of the petroleum products, he said.

He said this pipeline will go a long way in catering to the needs of Afghanistan and Central Asian republics in an environment-friendly manner.

President Pervez Musharraf said foreign direct investment (FDI) which was hovering around $ 300 to 400 million per annum in 1999 have increased to $ 1.4 billion in 2004. It will keep rising in the coming years, he added amid applause.

Compliment China

He also complimented China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation and Techno Engineering Pakistan for early completion of the project.

The President said it will replace the transportation of oil products by tankers which have been crowding the area in Keamari creating problems for the locals and causing pollution in the area.

He however noted that due to boost in economic activities, these oil tankers have been converted to transport water and other non-oil products.

He noted that with the commissioning of pipeline, people of Keamari were taking a sigh of relief, environment has improved and road maintenance cost in Sindh and Karachi will be reduced.

He was hopeful the foreign investment specially in oil and gas sector will keeping coming to Pakistan. Energy is one of the most important areas that the government was concentrating on, he opined.

Of Exploration

Musharraf said the government wanted to accelerate the process of exploration in off-shore and on-shore areas. “We also want to accelerate the process of distribution of gas and oil to all areas of Pakistan, specially gas”.

“We will take gas to all parts of Pakistan”, the President said with commitment. He said the government was (currently) evaluating the proposal to install CNG or LNG gas tanks outside those towns which are located in far-flung areas of the country and lay a distribution system within these towns to provide gas to the locals through pipelines at half the price of cylinder.

President Musharraf said he has given the deadline of January 1, 2006 for this project to the concerned authorities and hoped that they will not violate the time frame. He said the government will ensure that every nook and corner of Pakistan specially in mountains and inaccessible area where deforestation was rampant due to tree cutting, will get gas.

He was of the view that people have no energy source in mountains and therefore they cut trees. “If we can take cheap gas to Chitral and Gilgit, we will improve the environment in the country, besides providing them cheap energy”, he observed.

This is the future of oil, gas and coal, water alternate source of energy for Pakistan. He said the government, in its efforts to reduce higher dependence on oil for energy production, has slashed the ratio from current 70 percent to 59 percent and wanted to further decrease. We want to further decrease this ratio by using gas, coal and alternate resources for energy production.

Making a comment about local bodies elections, the President said the people have elected moderate and enlightened persons and rejected the extremist forces.
“This is the defeat of extremists and victory for moderates. I commend the nation and people of Pakistan for taking right decision”, he added.●