ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: President Mamnoon Hussain on Tuesday emphasized that it would not be correct to think that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was only related to Pakistan and China; in fact, he added, the corridor belonged more to Afghanistan than it belonged to Pakistan and China.
While addressing the Launching Ceremony of Documentary on Afghan Students Studying in Pakistan at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad, the president said CPEC was also of immense importance to Afghanistan in addition to Pakistan and China, as Afghanistan could reap numerous benefits from the project in the future.
The president underscored that various opportunities were emerging for the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan especially youth after the start of CPEC.
President Mamnoon said as several Countries from Central Asia and Russia were anxious to become part of the CPEC project, all of those would access it after passing through Afghanistan.
Mamnoon Hussain underlined that start of trade between different regions of the World through CPEC would also bring new technologies and knowledge to the region.
Furthermore, he said it was imperative that the youth should have attained expertise in modern knowledge and skills in order to reap benefit from those openings. He highlighted that basic purpose of the scholarships awarded to them in Pakistan was to prepare them for the requirements of modern era.
The president said Pakistan, Afghanistan and their other sincere friends were trying to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan. He pointed out that their Afghan brothers had suffered enormous losses during the decades of war and Pakistan had also been hugely affected.
Mamnoon Hussain said owing to the situation created by others, Pakistan had lost its 70,000 sons, daughters, elders and soldiers. Meanwhile, its financial damages were beyond calculation, he added.
The president said antagonists fomented misunderstandings and strife for their evil objectives in such situations. In those circumstances, responsible nations took decisions after considering the ground realities. Same was required, keeping in view the regional situation, so that all nations of the region including Pakistan and Afghanistan could live in peace, he added.
President Mamnoon emphasized that the major reasons behind feelings of mutual respect and love between them were blood relations, regional proximity, shared values, and above all the shared religious beliefs which even bound strangers in a relationship of brotherhood that was above all other bonds.
The president expressed pleasure that the number of Afghan students studying in Pakistan would increase from 3,000 to 6,000 in coming days which would provide better opportunities of education to more Afghan students. He expressed hope that Afghan students would serve their Country in various fields after completing education so that the loss suffered by Afghanistan during the last few decades due the international situation and wars could be compensated.
Mamnoon Hussain also expressed hope that Afghan students would act as the goodwill ambassador of Pakistan after returning to their Country.
On the occasion, the president also appreciated the documentary on the curricular and extra-curricular activities of Afghan students studying in Pakistan.
The Chairman High Education Commission (HEC) Dr Mukhtar Ahmad and Afghanistan’s ambassador to Pakistan Omar Zakhiwal also addressed the gathering.
