Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday just as Pakistan had emerged as a nuclear power, efforts were now needed to turn it into an economic power.<\/p>\n
The premier expressed these views while addressing a federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad, where he also spoke about May 28.<\/p>\n
On May 28, 1998, Pakistan joined the ranks of nuclear powers after atomic tests in the hills of Chagai, Balochistan.<\/p>\n
In his address, PM Shehbaz said on that day, Pakistan gained a power that would remain a \u201cdefensive asset\u201d of the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is our national narrative that this asset is for defence, not offence. And this is the reason that the world knows Pakistan as a responsible nuclear power,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The premier then paid tribute to all \u201cheroes\u201d who contributed to efforts for making Pakistan a nuclear power, particularly mentioning late prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and former prime minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.<\/p>\n
\u201c[The initiative\u2019s] founder was Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and my leader, Nawaz Sharif, saw it to completion,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The prime minister went on to say that just as Pakistan had become a nuclear power, \u201cwe have to turn it into an economic power with the same commitment and hard work\u201d.<\/p>\n
Addressing cabinet members, he said, \u201cYou, as a team, have made several efforts for it over the past two years, and gradually, we have seen [some] results. But, this is a very long and difficult journey.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that, however, when nations were resolute in their decision to face difficulties and overcome challenges, \u201cGod blesses them with success\u201d.<\/p>\n
PM Shehbaz also mentioned the Middle East conflict, which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. The conflict has also resulted in the disruption of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz \u2014 a maritime corridor through which one-fifth of the world\u2019s oil and gas supply used to pass during peacetime.<\/p>\n
The premier said the situation in the Middle East had caused economic difficulties for several countries, including Pakistan. \u201cBut, you faced those challenges as a team and continue to do so,\u201d he said, addressing the cabinet members.<\/p>\n
At the outset of his address, he also spoke about Marka-i-Haq,<\/em> a brief military conflict between India and Pakistan that took place in May last year.<\/p>\n He said Pakistan had emerged victorious in the conflict as the entire nation was united at the time, and the armed forces fought bravely and courageously.<\/p>\n