President stresses rule of law in address on Independence Day

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday said Pakistan could be put on the path of development and prosperity by promoting rule of law, justice, democracy, and provision of basic human rights.

Addressing a flag-hoisting ceremony held here in connection with the independence day of Pakistan, the president expressed the hope that Pakistan would soon become a prosperous and developed country by following all the basic rules and guidance given by the founder of Pakistan Quid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

He said Quid-i-Azam always discouraged nepotism, voiced for promotion of merit, unity, socio-economic justice, and poverty alleviation.

He said Pakistan got independence in 1947 because of long struggle of Quid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and other founding leaders, and sacrifices of hundreds of thousands of people.

He said the country’s armed forces, police and the public were still sacrificing their lives for the country’s security as over one 100,000 people had been died in war against terrorism.

He said the aim of Pakistan’s independence was the establishment of an independent Muslim state so that Muslims of the subcontinent could live their lives according to Islamic principles.

The president paid heartiest tributes to the founders of Pakistan who struggled for the independence of Pakistan and the hundreds of thousands of people who embraced martyrdom for Pakistan.

President Alvi stressed the elite of the country to take the responsibility of poverty alleviation and promotion of education and health, which he said were inter-connected with each other.

He said currently 27 million children were out of school across the country, who needed to enroll in schools.

He stressed that every child should be enrolled in school which could only be possible through resources.

He said everybody should pay his or her due taxe so that the government should get more resources to provide maximum facilities to the people.

Similarly, he said good health was also vital for nation-building.

The president said although it was necessary to explore natural resources buried under the land but the actual wealth was built in our minds which should be fully utilized. He stressed the need to look into the areas of latest technologies, IT, industries and agriculture.

He quoted Allama Iqbal as saying that without women’s participation; no nation could develop and prosper. Therefore, he called upon the women folk of the country to work for the development of the country by actively participating in all areas.

Quid-i-Azam, he said also encouraged his sister Fatima Jinnah to fully participate in the country’s politics.

The president also expressed solidarity with the people of occupied Kashmir. He hoped that by the will of God, soon Kashmir would become part of Pakistan. He vowed to the people of Kashmir not to leave Pakistan’s support for their just struggle.