Musharraf terms Extremism, Sectarianism ‘only threat to Pakistan’   
By Khawaja Ahsan Paul 'Pakistan Times' Punjab Bureau Chief

OKARA: President General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday termed eradication of terrorism and extremism necessary for the accomplishment of development projects in the country and stressed for people's support in defeating these menaces.

"If we do not eliminate extremism, terrorism and sectarianism from the society, we would not be able to provide better health and educational facilities to the common man," President Musharraf said while addressing a public gathering at Jinnah Stadium after the inauguration of Okara-Depalpur bypass.

President Musharraf termed the recent suicide bombings in the country as highly deplorable, saying it was a step to create religious turmoil in the name of Islam.

"Some elements involved in suicide attacks, consider themselves better Muslims as compared to others and risk the lives of innocent people, which is totally against the spirit of Islam," the President said.

The President sought support of the people in identifying the extremists who incite people and use places of worship for fanning hatred.

President Musharraf said youth was being brain- washed to become suicide bombers which is un-Islamic.

He said extremism and terrorism cannot be defeated without the support of people and urged them to lend assistance to law enforcing agencies to effectively fight these evils from the society.

President Pervez Musharraf said Pakistan was an Islamic Republic and assured that no laws could be enacted which are not in conformity with Islam.

Alleviation of Poverty

According to another report, President General Pervez Musharraf has said that livestock sector is being organized on scientific lines with an aim to bring about white revolution and alleviate poverty in the country. He was speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Embryo transfer technology and semen production unit at the military farm here on Saturday.

Governor Punjab Khalid Maqbool, Chief Minister Ch.Pervaiz Elahi, Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal, Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed , Federal Minister for Food Agriculture and Livestock Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sher Afgan Niazi, Provincial minister, Haroon Ahmed Sultan and number of other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock, Dairy Development Board and Military farms have jointly launched the project, while Planning Commission of Pakistan has sponsored it.

Musharraf said that Pakistan has the best pedigree cattle but regrettably "we have not fully exploited the potential."

The project being launched by military farms in collaboration with private sector would go a long way in improving quality and yield of livestock in the country, he added.

The President said that cattle breeders and farmers are getting 10% of what they can get from their livestock by using latest technologies.

He said that all the departments of livestock sector including production, collection of milk, storage and value addition need to be re-organized on modern lines.

The President said that traditional way of milk collection through milkmen needs to be replaced by the system which could ensure quality and take care of hygienic aspects.

He said that politicians and especially local councillors can play an important role in creating awareness among small cattle farmers and explaining the importance of using scientific methods and techniques like Embryo Transfer Technologies and artificial inseminations for increasing production of milk and meat.

President Musharraf said that cattle breeders should be told that milk production can be increased considerably by using scientific methods.

He appreciated the role of Punjab Chief Minister for promotion of livestock sector in the province and also praised military farms for taking lead and introducing modern techniques in this sector.

Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal, in his address, said that the joint collaboration of livestock and dairy development board, MINFAL and military farms and sponsorship of Planning Commission is in line with President General Pervez Musharraf's vision for bringing about a white revolution in the country.

The project would go a long way in improving genetic of cattle including buffaloes and cows in the country, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Muhammad Akram Sheikh said that this project would help bring about revolutionary changes in the livestock sector.

He said that initially it would produce 10,000 embryo and 2 million semens, while later the capacity would be increased to 40,000 embryo and 10,000 semens on annual basis.

He said that a programme would be launched for provision of facility of artificial insemination at the doorsteps of farmers at nominal rates.

He said that agriculture contributes a substantial share in GDP and livestock farms are very essential part of agriculture sector.

He said with these projects contribution of livestock sector in the national economy would further grow.

Govt's Top Priority

President General Pervez Musharraf announced a number of development schemes for the area and said poverty elimination and provision of employment to the masses was the government's top priority. President Musharraf announced allocation of Rs 3.5 billion for development projects in the area.

The President said the 14-kilometre long bypass would not only facilitate the people in Punjab, but also cater to the flow of traffic from rest of the country.

He said a bridge at SyedWala over the River Ravi would be constructed costing Rs 340 million.

President Musharraf said a Cadet College in the area was under construction and announced a University of Education to be completed with a cost of Rs 450 million.

The President said the first phase of the provision of natural gas to the area residents had been completed and vowed that by end of 2007 every Tehsil Headquarters would be provided with this facility.

President also announced Rs 250 million for the improvement of Faisalabad-Okara Road, upgradation of Cardiology Ward with modern CT Scan facility and dialysis centre at District Hospital, Okara.

Referring to the demand of local entrepreneurs, President Musharraf announced for the establishment of Export Promotion Zone in Okara.

The President said a campus of Agricultural University would be set up in the area and said he would recommend Higher Education Commission to prepare feasibility study for the establishment of a medical college.

About the state of country's economy during the tenure of previous governments, President Musharraf said from 1985 to 1999, the annual development allocations never crossed Rs 80 billion.

However, he said the allocations for development during the last seven years had been substantially enhanced, which currently stood at Rs 415 billion for the fast pace economic development of the country.

He referred to a series of mega projects including Gwadar Port, Coastal Highway, Motorways and other road networks besides new water reservoirs and said these would usher in a new era of economic progress for the people.

The President said for the growing needs in the agricultural sector, Thal Canal, Kachhi Canal and Rainy Canals were being constructed while work on Bhasha Dam project was being undertaken to meet the future needs of the country in energy as well as agri sector.

President said Kalabagh Dam would be constructed by 2015.

President Musharraf termed 2007 as election year, saying assemblies would be completing their tenure for the first time in the country's history.

He urged the people to vote for those in the forthcoming general elections, who stand for economic development of the country and strive for better and prosperous future for the coming generations.

Governor Punjab Khalid Maqbool, Chief Minister Pervez Elahi and Senior Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal also spoke on the occasion.●