ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the government is pursuing a long-term and multi-pronged strategy to root out terrorism from the country. He said this while talking to media persons after his visit to Al-Shifa Hospital where he inquired about the health of Minister for Religious Affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi, who had sustained injuries during an attempt on his life a few days back. Gilani said that the government, army and nation were united to stamp out terrorism from the country. After the successful military operation in Swat and Malakand, the government was working on an exit strategy, he added. However, he said the army would stay in the area till peace was completely restored. The option of building a cantonment in Swat is also under consideration, he said. Premier Gilani said the law-enforcement agencies and civil departments would be further strengthened. He underlined the need to make the nation and religious scholars aware about the threats posed by terrorism, which is damaging to the countrys law and order as well as its economic development. Gilani said military operation was one component of the governments multi-dimensional policy and was carried out when terrorism reached an extreme point. Terrorism is a phenomenon, which cannot be ended in a day, he said adding law-enforcement agencies, local administration and politicians were working together to establish good governance and carry out development projects to erase causes of terrorism. The Prime Minister recalled that he had held a meeting with President of Sri Lanka during his recent visit to Libya. Sri Lanka has been making efforts to counter the menace of terrorism, he said. According to the Prime Minister, Sri Lankan President gave him clues linking elements in his country (Sri Lanka) with terrorist events in Pakistan including the attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore. He further said that the Sri Lankan President told him that terrorists in Pakistan were financed from his country and in this connection, both countries were holding investigations, he said adding officials of Interior Ministry would visit Sri Lanka to exchange information. To a question, Gilani said that the objective of the meeting of Chief Ministers called by him on Wednesday was to evolve a common strategy on supply and prices of sugar and essential commodities. He said in Punjab sugar was being sold at Rs 47 per kg, but after decision of the Lahore High Court, despite relief in taxes, the Sugar Mills Association refused to sell sugar at lower rates. He said prices should be uniform in the four provinces and the decision to sell sugar at Rs 47 per kg was made after taking on board all stakeholders including relevant ministries, Trading Corporation of Pakistan and representatives of the sugar mills. To another question, he said package of political reforms was a longstanding demand of the people of Gilgit and Baltistan. People in Northern Areas were given internal autonomy and sovereignty in their affairs and now they had authority equal to other provinces, he added. The Prime Minister said he took into confidence the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir on the new status of Gilgit and Baltistan province. He said that the government was firm on its principled stand on Jammu and Kashmir and would keep supporting people in the region.