Don’t mistake our peace efforts as weakness: President


Don’t mistake our desire and efforts for peace as weakness, President Arif Alvi said, while referring to the Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan.

He was speaking at a joint parliamentary session called at the beginning of the second parliamentary year of the National Assembly under the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government on Thursday. The session started off with the National Anthem and a prayer.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, the chiefs of the navy and air force, and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee attended the session.

The president, amid anti-government chants from the opposition benches, emphasised on the need for stable democracy in the country.

He spoke at length over India’s atrocities in Kashmir and narrated Pakistan’s stance and efforts made so far to call the attention of the international community to the human rights violations in Kashmir.

He said it was a big accomplishment for Pakistan that the UNSC held a session on the issue after more than 50 years, despite India trying its best to prevent it from happening.

President Alvi thanked the friendly countries that supported Pakistan’s stance over the Kashmir conflict, especially China. “Pakistan is with its Kashmiri brethren. We will continue to extend moral support,” he said, adding that India’s illegal actions have threatened peace in the region.

He then went on to highlight the one-year performance of the PTI government.

The government has had to take difficult decisions in the 2019-20 budget because of the problems faced by the country, he said, adding that FBR needs more resources and taxpayers should be facilitated.

He said the primary purpose of the government is to make Pakistan a welfare state.

No country can progress without the development of the education sector, he said.

Pakistan’s youth population is one of the highest in Asia, he said, adding that the future of the country is in their hands.