ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain said on Saturday that ongoing counterterrorism operations would continue in all parts of the country, including Karachi, till elimination of terrorism and establishment of the rule of law.
Addressing the 12th Convocation of the Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology here, the president said the only solution to terrorism was to take the misguided elements to task.
Five students were awarded PhD degrees, 13 MS and M.Phil degrees and 500 bachelor degrees at the convocation. As many as 28 students bagged gold medals in recognition of their outstanding performance in their studies. Dr Salim ur Rehman, vice-chancellor of the Sarhad University, presented welcome address. Sarhad University President Riaz Karim, faculty members and parents of the students attended the function. Higher Education Commission Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed also addressed the event.
The president said that Pakistan was going to step into a new era of industrial, economic and technological development. The nation would achieve progress and prosperity if it fulfils the requirements of the modern age, he said. He said it was unfortunate that the ideal strategic location of Pakistan could not be utilised in the past and the country could not do well. However, he said, making full use of Pakistan’s strategic location was part of the government’s priorities and work in this regard was underway.
Hussain said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas stood firm despite worst form of terrorism in their areas. He said that sacrifices of the people and law enforcement agencies led to the defeat of terrorists and paved the way for peace in the country. He directed the authorities concerned to immediately expand the distance-learning programme of the Sarhad University to the tribal areas.
The president said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was not merely a network of roads, but a mega project. The president clarified that the government had not modified the CPEC route and propaganda in this regard was baseless.
