ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Wednesday underlined the importance of institutional interaction and high level exchanges with Afghanistan to enhance bilateral trade, economic cooperation and transit of Afghan goods through Pakistan.
The prime minister was talking to Afghan Ambassador Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, who called on him. They discussed bilateral relations and efforts for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Expressing Pakistan’s desire for strengthening engagement with Afghanistan to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in diverse fields, the prime minister also stressed the need for deepening connectivity between the two countries and expediting ongoing regional projects including Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline and the Central Asia-South Asia power project 1000.
The prime minister strongly condemned the suicide blast that occurred at a shrine in Kabul on Wednesday in which many precious lives were lost while a number of people got injured. He expressed Pakistan’s solidarity with the government and people of Afghanistan over the brutal act of terrorism.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi reiterated Pakistan’s support to the efforts for Afghan reconciliation under an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.
The Afghan ambassador lauded the PM’s reaffirmation of Pakistan’s support for strengthening of bilateral relations while conveying that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Afghan leadership also desired meaningful engagement with Pakistan in all areas of interaction.
Separately on Wednesday, PM Abbasi stressed the need for promotion of education along with inculcation of basic moral values while maintaining balance between the two.
Decisions based upon morality and basic values boost morale of a government and thus lead to its success, he said addressing a conference organised by a private school system at the PM Office.
The prime minister opined that observance of moral values opened the door for political success; therefore, they were taking democratic and political decisions in the light of moral codes.
Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting, National History & Literary Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb also attended the event.
Prime Minister Abbasi underlining the importance of holding such conferences, said spread of education based upon basic principles was need of the hour. Though it was difficult to make decisions based upon values, but the same would entail permanence with long term objectives and achievements, he added.
The PM observed that though such long term decisions were not always popular yet still they had durability.
He also stressed upon the teaching community and parents to play their due role for the promotion of social values and stressed upon keeping a balance in education and morality. On the occasion, a memorandum of understanding was also signed between City School Network and the PM Office under the PM Youth Contact Programme for promotion of education. Federal Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani and City School Chief Operating Officer Shahzad Khan signed the document. Earlier, City School Network Chairperson Dr Farzana Feroz addressed the gathering and stressed upon imparting quality education to children with inculcation of basic ethical values.
She said her institution had been providing ideal education in different disciplines. Renowned educationists Dr Hurrina Jatoi, Dr Irfan Haider and Saira Naseem also addressed on the occasion. During the conference, Special Assistant to PM Mussadik Malik, Higher Education Commission Director General Shahid Saroha, representative of Spirit of Math Canada Kim Langen and journalist Hamid Mir took part in the panel discussion and highlighted the significance of basic values with regard to promotion of education, while recounting their personal experiences.
Published in Daily Times, March 22nd 2018.
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