Network of terrorists broken: Nawaz Sharif

'India's response for restoration of peace talks discouraging.'

By Afzal Khan

Published: Thu 22 Oct 2015, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Thu 22 Oct 2015, 10:47 AM

Islamabad: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that the network of terrorists in Pakistan has been destroyed adding that peace has also been restored to Karachi.
Addressing the Pakistani-American community in Washington during his official visit to the United States, the premier reiterated the country's resolve to root out terrorism.
According to Radio Pakistan, Sharif highlighted socio-economic development programmes under way in Pakistan, including the Rs341 billion Kissan (farmers) Package, projects to overcome the crippling energy shortages, the joint China-Pakistan Economic Corridor initiative and Pakistan-Russia cooperation on the North-South gas pipeline.
The budget deficit has been reduced from 8.8 per cent to 5.3 per cent, and that the stock market had picked up, he added.
Terming Kashmir as the bone of contention between Pakistan and India, the prime minister said if New Delhi is serious about improving bilateral ties with Islamabad, the issue of Kashmir will have to be resolved. Pakistan wants to restore normal relations with India but Delhi's response is discouraging.
Sharif noted that today's Pakistan is completely different from that of what "We had received two and a half years ago and the wave of change can be felt by all and sundry in every sector and every part of the country."
The premier said be it Karachi, Balochistan or Fata, there is improvement everywhere as regards law and order.
He said: "We have made it our second priority to rein in energy crisis. Around 3,600 megawatts will be added to the system through LNG projects by the end of 2017. We spend every penny honestly. The projects which were to be built at a cost of Rs93 billion are being built at a cost of Rs55 billion. Around Rs120 billion will be saved in power projects."
The premier said that the country will be rid of the menace of load-shedding before completion of his government's tenure.
He said that work was going-on at a fast speed on Lahore-Karachi motorway project while work was under way on the construction of Gilgit-Mansehra highway.
"Our national economy has revived and international institutions also endorsed it," he said.
He criticised negative politics of protests and obstructions of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan.
"It is not appropriate to take issues to streets. The Judicial Commission declared that the elections were transparent but a political party was bent on not accepting the verdict. Even after by-polls, they say that the election has been rigged. Targeting state institutions is not correct," Sharif said.
"When parliament and courts are functioning and all institutions are working according to the law, violence on streets cannot be allowed," he declared.
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(With inputs from agencies)