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Call for strong economy to have stronger defence

KARACHI: Participants at a debate on Saturday called for strengthening economy so that it would automatically make the defence stronger.

The debate on "Good governance concept and practice in Pakistan" was held here under the aegis of the Centre for Development and Democracy (CDD).

CDD Chairman Nafis Siddiqi, an address of welcome, urged an equal distribution of wealth. He alleged that in the past through abuse of power a handful families had become multi-billionaire overnight.

Nafees Siddiqi said the bitter truth is, "we neither had democracy nor development in real terms so far."

He said, the media had been very active in exposing the weaknesses of the system and mis-doings of the rulers.

Siddiqi asked the people to take note of perpetual crisis of leadership and conscious attempts of ignoring the national goals.

The CDD was meant for commencing a process of identification of goals on which consensus could be encouraged.

Member of the suspended Senate and PPP's central leader Aitzaz Ahsen said, "we talk of democratic system in the country while we as individuals do not welcome our juniors' opinion in offices rather that of our children at home."

Aitzaz stressed to make the country's social infrastructure stronger besides establishing a fabric among the nation.

He underlined the need for acquiring maximum scientific and technical knowledge to match with industrial and scientific revolution.

Ahsan maintained that the real power of a country was in its economic strength/soundness.

"Had the nuclear arms been the power/strength the Russian Federation would not have been dismembered, which had 40,000 nuclear warheads and missiles," he observed.

The Deputy Convenor of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Rabita Committee and member of suspended Senate, Aftab Ahmad Shaikh observed that the representatives the people send to assemblies did not speak about people's problems but remained active in getting loans/permits.

He called for reforming the society wherein every citizen enjoyed equal rights and status.

Others, who spoke were Sultan Ahmed and Tahir M. Khan.ÑAPP