Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain on Wednesday has said that the National Action Plan (NAP) has been evolved to uproot terrorism and extremism from the country.

While addressing to convocation of Virtual University in Islamabad, the president said that the armed forces and other law enforcing agencies are taking action against militants successfully. He said that the Operation Zarb-e-Azb would continue till the elimination of last terrorist adding that the economy is improving due to prudent policies of the present government. He further said that the students should play their effective role to make Pakistan a successful and prosperous country.

The president said that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a significant initiative towards the country’s economic stability and any obstacle in the way of CPEC will not be tolerated at any cost.

He said CPEC would usher in an era of development of the country and urged upon the nation to fully support the project adding that the project would make Pakistan a major hub of economic activity in the region.

President Mamnoon Hussain said that several projects of power generation and motorways would be completed under the umbrella of CPEC adding that rest of the country would be linked up with the corridor.

He said the materialisation of CPEC would require technical expertise and called upon the students to opt for relevant subjects including information technology, banking and commerce, so as to be available as the personnel required for the project.

He said National Action Plan is being implemented and elimination of extremists had resulted in revival of economy in the country. He mentioned that there is a significant improvement in the economic indicators.

The president said the negligence at individual and institutional level had resulted in several challenges, confronting the country including inflation, unemployment, load shedding and militancy.

He stressed the need for working honestly and with dedication to make the country a true realisation of the vision of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal. He asked the youth to shun despondency and focus on their energies to contribute for the country’s bright future.

The president said corruption had eroded the system of society and emphasised on discouraging the corrupt elements adding that those affiliated with education sector should regard their profession as a noble mission to groom the young generations rather than considering it as a mean of employment.

He lauded the services of Virtual University in increasing literacy rate even in far-flung areas through their E-learning and distant-learning programmes.

Mamnoon Hussain mentioned that the children of Pakistani expatriates abroad had difficulty in getting higher education and said Virtual University could play an important role in facilitating them by offering distant-learning courses.

The president congratulated the degree holders and said the students owed to the support of their parents and teachers for the success in their lives. He urged the students to never forget well wishes of their elders and always be respectful to them. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Mukhtar Ahmed and Virtual University Rector Dr Naveed A Malik were also present on the occasion.