ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain has said national economy is making progress satisfactorily.

Talking to participants of National Management Course in Islamabad on Tuesday, he said the government has prepared special development programmes for backward areas.

Earlier, addressing the participants of 105th National Management Course of National School of Public Policy (NSPP) at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad on Tuesday, President has urged the civil servants to work with devotion for the development of the country and welfare of the people.

Secretary Cabinet Syed Tahir Shahbaz, Rector NSPP M. Ismail Qureshi and other senior officials were also present.

Urging India to act responsibly, the President said that ongoing tension between Pakistan and India will be detrimental for both countries and will also gravely affect the whole region. The President noted that national economy is growing at a satisfactory pace and the government has devised special development projects for the whole country particularly for the underdeveloped areas. The President stated that the country’s current foreign exchange reserves are highest in history.

The President said that Balochistan would gain maximum benefit from China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Gwadar deep sea port would become functional by the end of this year. He emphasized that there is no change in the CPEC project including the western route. The President stressed that operations across the country including Karachi would continue till complete restoration of law and order.

The President underlined that in order to make Pakistan a welfare state the civil officers should honestly and efficiently implement government policies and programmes for the benefit and welfare of the people. He added that civil officers are servants of the people and not their rulers and they should discharge their responsibilities without any fear.

President Mamnoon Hussain said that the services rendered by the civil servants for the country and people are commendable adding that the dedication and devotion shown by civil officers after the creation of Pakistan should be emulated by the current bureaucracy.

The President stated that secret to any nation’s progress and rise to excellence is hard work, judicious utilization of available resources and sincere leadership but these factors bear fruit only when the administration and civil officers of different fields are fully aware of the principles of running the government. The President said that various training courses are organized to hone the skills of civil servants and expressed his satisfaction that the curriculum devised for such courses is in line with modern requirements which is the need of the hour.

The President hoped that trainee officers would serve the country in a better way adding that our civil officers should follow the guidelines and principles laid by Quaid-e-Azam for the civil servants. He added that civil officers should assist the government in formulating such policies which are for the good of the people.

“The civil officers should work with great dedication to benefit from improving economic indicators and possibilities originating from the revival of economy and in this way we will collectively be able to make Pakistan an Islamic Welfare State”, stated the President. The President impressed upon that civil officers should discharge their responsibilities within the ambit of law and constitution and do not succumb to unlawful directives.