Rising import of military equipment may disturb balance of power: president
ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain said on Wednesday that an aggressive military doctrine in the region had led to increased import of high-tech military equipment, which might disturb the existing balance of power.
Therefore, he said, Pakistan needed to improve its economy and strengthen its defence capabilities as it would help the country address the internal and external challenges it’s facing.
The president was speaking at the inaugural session of a two-day seminar on Public-Private Partnership in Defence Production and Export organised by the Defence Export Promotion Organisation.
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He said that Pakistan’s defence products were of international quality but the volume of exports was not at par with its potential because of lack of marketing and other problems.
Mr Hussain said that the private sector’s investment in defence production should be encouraged, adding that Turkey’s experiences in the area might be followed.
Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain noted that Pakistan had made significant progress in defence production. He said the purpose of the seminar was to formulate recommendations for exploring avenues for public-private partnership and devising effective policies.—APP
Our Staff Reporter adds: During a meeting with the first Arab woman Nobel peace laureate, Tawakkol Abdel-Salam Karman, President Hussain asked her to raise the issue of oppressed people in Palestine, Kashmir, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya and elsewhere.
He said the Ummah should unite to achieve peace and prosperity in the Muslim world and work for the mitigation of the suffering of people.
Ms Karman, a Yemeni journalist, human rights activist and co-recipient of the 2011 Nobel peace prize, is the first Yemeni and the second Muslim woman to win the coveted prize.
President Hussain said that Ms Karman and the youngest Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai were the role models for the youth.
Ms Karman said she was honoured and overwhelmed by the warmth and affection shown to her by the government and people of Pakistan and that she considered Pakistan her second home.
CUBAN AMBASSADOR: Outgoing Cuban Ambassador Jesus Zenen Buergo Concepcion also called on President Hussain.
During the meeting, the president said that Pakistan wanted to strengthen relations with Cuba in different fields.
In a separate meeting with Ambassador-designate to Brazil, S.M. Burhanul Islam, the president said that ties between Pakistan and Brazil were marked by cordiality and there was a considerable potential to boost trade between the two countries.
He underscored the need for translating the existing goodwill in building solid trade and commercial ties.
Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2015