Security Pakistan’s prime issue: PM Gilani

QUETTA: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Monday that Pakistan is facing many challenges including terrorism and security which are the country's most important issues, Geo News reported.

PM Gilani was addressing a gathering at the Command and Staff College in Quetta. He said national security is the government's top priority and security challenges were never neglected by the government while comprehensive steps were taken to confront such challenges.

The premier said Pakistan has been adversely affected by terrorism as billions of dollars were lost in the war against terrorism. The country sacrificed immensely in the war in order to defend other countries.

The PM continued and said thousands of soldiers and patriotic men sacrificed their lives for national security and their sacrifices will not go in vain.

Talking about the petroleum products’ prices, he said that economic development and national stability are correlative and that petroleum products’ prices have affected many countries, including Pakistan.

He said that International Monetary Fund (IMF) sanctioned loans on the condition of raising electricity tariff.

PM Gilani said that the national GDP witnessed growth while the Karachi Stock Exchange also rose to 13 billion dollars. He said the country's resources will be utilized for the people while he emphasised the institutions to work together for public welfare.

The prime minister said that the government spent Rs 3 billion for the rescue and rehabilitation of rain and flood victims and claimed to reduce the inflation rate to single digit.