RAWALPINDI: Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the civil and military institutions in Pakistan are working together for the good of the country, as he dismissed any suggestions of a rift. He also revealed that had he not become a cricketer, he would have been a soldier.
“There is no such thing as a civil-military tug of war,” he said during his speech at the main ceremony for the country’s 53rd Defense and Martyrs Day. “Our goals are the same: that is to make Pakistan one of the greatest countries of the world.”
The ceremony was held at the army’s general headquarters in Rawalpindi on September 6. In addition to Khan and Chief of Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, the guests included senior military and civilian officials, including opposition-party leaders Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, of the Pakistan Peoples Party, and Shehbaz Sharif, of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.
During his speech Khan also recalled that when he was just 12 years old, in 1965, he picked up his father’s gun because he wanted to join his relatives in the fight against the Indian forces that were feared to have invaded Pakistan on September 7. Khan added that had he not become a cricketer, he would now be a retired soldier.
Earlier, in a message to the nation, Khan said that Pakistan believes in peaceful coexistence and seeks friendly relations with all its neighbors. He added that while the Defense Day has become a potent symbol of national unity and solidarity, this year is different.
“This year is quite unique because the armed forces of Pakistan have stood out in [terms of] achievements in the war against terrorism,” he said.
Defense and Martyrs Day began with special prayers at mosques across the country. In addition to the main ceremony, a number of events paying tribute to Pakistan’s armed forces and those killed in action took place, and pictures of soldiers who lost their lives in battle were on display in public places. Preparations had been underway for several weeks, with the army and air force releasing videos to highlight their future plans and honor military personnel.
Defense Day commemorates the date when Indian armed forces crossed the international border to attack Pakistan in 1965. Martyr’s Day was introduced in 2014.
Imran Khan: Had I not become a cricketer, I would have been a soldier
Imran Khan: Had I not become a cricketer, I would have been a soldier
- Khan recalled that at age 12, he wanted to join his relatives in the fight against the Indian forces that were feared to have invaded Pakistan
- The prime minister addressed the Defense and Martyrs Day ceremony at the army GHQ
Pakistan highlights Gwadar transshipment role as shipping routes face disruption over regional tensions
- Pakistani ports possess “untapped potential” to attract global shipping lines for transshipment operations, says minister
- Pakistan eyes leveraging Gwadar as regional transshipment hub as Iran’s closure of Strait of Hormuz disrupts global maritime trade
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Thursday highlighted the importance of the port city of Gwadar’s transshipment role as major shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, face disruption due to Iran’s ongoing conflict with the US and Israel in the Gulf.
The meeting takes place as Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway that lies between it and Oman. It is one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes, with roughly 20 percent of global oil supplies passing through it. Iran has vowed it will attack any ship that enters the strait, causing energy prices to rise sharply on Monday amid disruptions to tanker traffic in the waterway.
Gwadar is a deep-sea port in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province that lies close to the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistani officials have in the past highlighted Gwadar’s geostrategic position as the shortest trade route to the Gulf and Central Asia, stressing that it has the potential to become a regional transshipment hub.
Chaudhry chaired a high-level meeting of government officials to assess emerging logistical challenges facing Pakistan’s trade, particularly in the energy sector, amid tensions in the Gulf.
“Special focus was placed on fully leveraging the potential of Gwadar Port as a regional transshipment hub and positioning it as an alternative of regional instability,” Pakistan’s maritime affairs ministry said in a statement.
The minister said Pakistani ports possessed “significant untapped potential” to attract international shipping lines for transshipment operations, noting that it could also ensure long-term sustainability and growth of the country’s maritime sector.
Participants of the meeting discussed measures to strengthen Pakistan’s position as a viable alternative transit and transshipment destination, as key waterways are affected by the disruption.
The committee also reviewed proposals to amend relevant rules and regulations to facilitate international transshipment operations through on-dock and off-dock terminals.
The chairmen of the Port Qasim Authority, Karachi Port Trust and Gwadar Port Authority attended the meeting, briefing committee members on the current operational readiness of their ports. They spoke about the available capacity for container transshipment, bulk cargo handling and refueling services at Pakistani ports.
The port in Gwadar is a central part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), under which Beijing has funneled tens of billions of dollars into massive transport, energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan.
Pakistan has long eyed the deep-sea port as a key asset that can help boost its trade with Central Asian states, the Gulf region and ensure the country earns valuable foreign exchange.
