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Nuclear capability results of years' hard work:PM

ISLAMABAD, June 7 (APP):-Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said the credit for Pakistan's nuclear capability goes to the entire nation. "It took not a day or two, but years to achieve this capability.Not hundreds, but thousands of scientists and engineers under able guidance, worked day and night, while our bold armed forces did the duty of guarding it." The Prime Minister was addressing the joint sitting of both Houses at Parliament here. The completion of the nuclear programme, he said, is the achievement of the entire nation. "The credit goes to the entire nation." The Prime Minister also acknowledged suggestions made by the political leadership, religious scholars, political parties, organisations, intellectuals and the journalists, who played a vital role in bringing about a consensus on this vital issue.

PM for setting aside all differences for nation building

ISLAMABAD, June 7 (APP): Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday called for commencing a new era of nation-building with courage and perseverance, setting aside all confrontation and political differences. Addressing the joint sitting of the parliament here, the Prime Minister said nuclear revolution brought major changes in the entire scenario on May 28 adding, "the future of every Pakistan is now secure and all the decisions of Islamabad are now thrashed out at Islamabad." "The fate of Pakistan is now in the hands of the people", the Prime Minister said adding " the Sun of real freedom in Pakistan has risen." Nawaz Sharif further said Pakistan's nuclear success was an immortal reflection of passion for freedom of the people of this country. The people of Pakistan have again proved that nothing was more important to them than their prestige and honour, he added.

Nawaz to share views with Saudi, UAE leaders on obtaining situation : FO

ISLAMABAD, June 7 (APP): Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, during his visit to Saudi Arabia and UAE, will share views with the leaders of these countries on the obtaining situation in South Asia and consult on "how to face challenges" lying ahead. "They have given us support and solidarity in this critical hour - the idea is to go there and share our thoughts on the situation here with them," a Foreign Office Spokesman said Saturday. The Prime Minister is going to these countries primarily to explain to them the situation that has obtained here, he said. Pakistan, he said, will thank them for "the support and solidarity they have shown to us and also to consult with them as to how in the days ahead we can face the challenges." The Spokesman said, Pakistan has very strong close relations with these countries. "We share each others' concerns, we cooperate with each other, we have a record, we have a tradition of consultation, of mutual support."

Pak-Turkey friendship will ever remain stronger: Mushahid

ISLAMABAD, June 7 (APP): Information Minsiter Mushahid Hussain Sayed said on Saturday Pakistan and Turkey have always enjoyed deep bonds of friendship as they have stood together in all times. "We feel ties of friendship between the governments and peoples of Turkey and Pakistan predate creation of our country," he said at a prize distribution ceremony arranged by Pak-Turkish International Schools and Colleges System. Mushahid Hussain said, Turkish President Suleyman Demirel was one of the key leaders, Premier Nawaz Sharif consulted on the nuclear issue. Pakistan, the Minister said, has always supported Turkey on Cyprus issue while Turkey has always supported us on Kashmir dispute. Mushahid Hussain referred to the poetry of Allama Iqbal which is an "abiding evidence of strong bonds of friendship between the two countries." More recently, he said, the construction of Islamabad- Peshawar Motorway undertaken by the Turkish company Byinder is a symbol of cooperation between Pakistan and Turkey.

Pakistan will not sign CTBT unilaterally : Akram Zaki

ISLAMABAD, June 7 (APP): Reiterating that Pakistan is against signing the CTBT unilaterally, Chairman Senate Foreign Relations Committee Akram Zaki said, it may be considered if all outstanding issues with India particularly Kashmir issue, is resolved. "If all those issue which are pending and are a cause of high tension between Pakistan and India are resolved particularly the core issue of Kashmir, Pakistan will be prepared to sign the CTBT", Zaki said in an interview with VOA. Zaki who is on a visit to the United States to muster support of the public opinion in favour of Pakistan's nuclear tests, said, "Pakistan's security is very much important". He said, it was inevitable for Pakistan to carry out nuclear tests to show to the world that it has the capability and the nation is prepared to resist the aggression. Zaki said, since Pakistan has carried out tests and a new type of balance of power has come to light in the region, "We should not join the arms race". "We should try our best to work for the betterment of the situation in the region. We should work for maintaining stability in the region".

Int. community must engage itself in dialogue on Kashmir

ISLAMABAD, June 7 (APP) :Pakistan on Saturday urged the international community to engage itself along with Pakistan and India to find "an equitable, just and expeditious settlement" of Kashmir dispute as without that "tension will not go away from South Asia" where situation has exacerbated after the region's nuclearization. A Foreign Office Spokesman, while reiterating Islamabad's willingness to enter into dialogue with New Delhi, underlined the need for international community's engagement as experience shows that "when a bilateral dialogue is held it is practically reduced to the dialogue of the death." "The bilateral context is like a dark tunnel in which sounds reverberate but don't lead us to the light at the end of the tunnel," Spokesman Tariq Altaf, repeating Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmed's emphasis, told journalists. He said, not that Pakistan is disinterested in dialogue but what is needed is the international community's engagement to make the dialogue meaningful. "We are certainly interested in the dialogue but we want to make it meaningful through international community's engagement.

Forex reduce by less than $ 200 m in last 3 weeks: Sartaj

ISLAMABAD June 7 (APP):-Finance Minister Sartaj Aziz Saturday denied that some 500 million dollar flew out of country just before the ordinance to freeze foreign currency account came. There has been a decrease of less than 200 million dollar in last two to three weeks, he told the joint sitting of Parliament. The foreign exchange reserves today stand at 1.15 billion against 1.3 billion dollar on that day. There was no leakage of information that the foreign currency accounts were being frozen, he said in response to an allegation by Senator Aitzaz Ahsan. The ordinance came at 10 p.m. A few banks were found operative at night which were closed on the intervention of State Bank of Pakistan, he said. He also clarified that the dollar restrictions are only on foreign currency accounts and not on debt retirement scheme.

Emergency imposed to counter serious situation

ISLAMABAD, June 7 (APP): Syeda Abida Hussain, Minister for Population Welfare said the government imposed emergency in the face of the serious situation facing the country. Abida Hussain was responding to the remarks made by leader of opposition in Senate Aitzaz Ahsan, during the joint sitting of the Parliament. Pakistan today, she said, is passing through a difficult time and though it is a matter of pride for Pakistan, but also a time for careful thinking and tread on carefully. The Prime Minister, she said, took time to take a difficult decision in a dignified manner. She said the government of Pakistan has put Pakistan on a steady footing and will steer it away from all the prevailing ills. The imposition of emergency in the country, she said, will end as soon as the looters and plunderers of the country are dealt with. She said it has been imposed only to seriously face the current situation and help the government in the difficult times facing the country.