Silver jubilee of nuke tests celebrated; Unity real message of Youm-e-Takbeer
Congratulating the nation on eve of the 25th anniversary of the country’s nuclear blasts, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged the people to forge unity to make the country an economic power.
In his message on the eve of Youm-e-Takbeer Shehbaz paid rich tributes to all those involved in making the country’s defence impregnable by successfully conducting five nuclear tests in response to India’s nuclear explosions.
“I salute the then prime minister and my leader Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, who made Pakistan the first nuclear power in the Islamic world and the seventh nuclear power in the world by making the national defence impregnable,” he said.
Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz said, only trusted in the power of Almighty Allah and defied the threats of superpower, adding that the offers of billions of dollars also could not deter him from his iron determination.
Shehbaz also paid tributes late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the founder of Pakistan’s nuclear programme and late Benazir Bhutto, who as the leader of opposition at that time, supported the government’s decision of nuclear blasts. There were political tensions in those days but the late Benazir Bhutto shunned all the differences for the sake of the country, he said. “This is the real message of this day. When it comes to Pakistan, our political differences, interests and divisions disappear.” “I salute all the heroes of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, including the late Dr Abdul Qadir Khan, scientists, engineers, workers and all those who have been a part of it in any form,” the prime minister added.
Shehbaz also praised all the friendly countries, especially the leadership of Saudi Arabia, who supported Pakistan regardless of international pressure. “The Pakistani nation can never forget their support,” he added.
“The lesson of today is that the nation can face any difficulty with unity. On May 28, 1998 the whole world was on one side, there was pressure, threats but the leadership of the country made the impossible possible,” the prime minister said.
“The unity of the nation is the real power. On this auspicious day, I also want to express this great desire of my heart that we have to make Pakistan an economic power now but for this we need the same unity, determination, focus and continuity,” he added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistani soldiers had rendered excellent services in the UN Peacekeeping, including the sacrifice of life in the most complex and dangerous conflict zones.
In a tweet, Shehbaz said as eight Pakistani peacekeepers were honoured posthumously on the completion of 75 years of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission, Pakistan was proud of being one of the largest contributors to the peace missions in the world. On the occassion, President Arif Alvi said that the acquisition of nuclear arms was “indeed a remarkable achievement” for Pakistan as it was inevitable to maintain the balance of power in the region.
Congratulating the nation for being a nuclear-armed country, he said that Pakistan conducted the nuclear tests in response to India’s declaration of possessing atomic warheads.
“The nation pays tribute to its renowned engineers and scientists who made Pakistan a nuclear power in a short span,” Alvi added.
Inter-Services Public Relations director general also highlighted the importance of the day, saying that the armed forces pay rich tribute to the “brilliant minds who conceived and achieved” nuclear deterrence despite challenges.
“We salute the scientists and engineers who turned the impossible into a reality. Long Live Pakistan,” the military’s media wing stated.
