Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said the new Government should meet the challenges of terrorism, energy shortage, and inflation through good governance by keeping Pakistan First as their strategy.
Islamabad, Mar 20 : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said the new Government should meet the challenges of terrorism, energy shortage, and inflation through good governance by keeping "Pakistan First" as their strategy.
While addressing a farewell dinner for the caretaker cabinet and the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mohammedmian Soomro, Musharraf said: "Politicking has to give way to good governance. I am confident that the new government will consider Pakistan always first and counter the challenges it faces."
He said the new Parliament should complete its full term and democratic institutions should work without any friction or confrontation.
"The country will make progress if the new leaders looked forward and worked together for the development of the country," Musharraf said.
Citing that several major issues needed to be tackled by the new government, Musharraf expressed hope that the new government would meet and understand these challenges and move Pakistan forward on the path of progress, peace and prosperity.
Recalling that the country had been through "turmoil" in the past few months, Musharraf said the new government must sustain economic growth to meet the difficulties it faced.
Pakistan's macro-economic indicators were strong and the recent shortage of energy was caused by rapid industrial growth. Growth in the energy sector should match the growth in economy, he added.
Musharraf insisted that he had fulfilled all promises he had made to the nation and added that the elections were free and fair.
"It is for the first time that the parties who lost have accepted their defeat and are ready to play their role as opposition," he said.
The Daily Times reported that Musharraf also congratulated the new members of the National Assembly and the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
ANI