ISLAMABAD: The resolve of COAS General Raheel Sharif for leading war on terror from the front has started paying dividends as frequency of terrorism in urban centres have reduced substantially, a business leader said today.

The priceless sacrifices of army and increased cooperation among spy agencies has also helped to dismantle terror networks in the rural areas, said President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain.

Speaking to the business community, he said that Gen. Raheel has sent a very loud and clear message by celebrating Eid on the front lines with troops in South Waziristan which was a great gesture at a time when militants are on the run. He became first ever COAS to spend night at South Waziristan which indicates confidence of army and stability in the region which was highly volatile few years back.

Gen Raheel, DGMO Gen Aamir, Corps Commander 11th Core Gen Hadiyat and others discounted all warnings of bad weather and flew there risking their lives.

The army leaders also visited Eidat and Baka Khel areas, met locals, boosted morale of soldiers participating in Shawal operation and took critical decisions.  Pakistan is bound to rise as army leadership is defeating terrorism through series of decisive measures resulting in visible signs of improvement in security situation.

Mian Zahid Hussain said that Decision of the Government of Sindh government to extend stay of the Rangers by one year in Karachi is good but insufficient.

Rangers working under command of Major General Bilal Akbar has restored confidence of masses and the business community therefore it should stay in Karachi for minimum two years as demanded by the businessmen earlier.

Investment of ninety billion rupees by traders in Karachi for Eid and sale items worth seventy billion, a record in ten years, is best indicator of improving situation.  Rangers for substantially reduced crime rate in the country’s economic hub and revived the writ of the government, he said while speaking to business community.

Mian Zahid Hussain said that Pakistan’s international credit worthiness cannot improve unless situation in Karachi is made better which is only possible in presence of Rangers.

Life is returning to normalcy in Karachi where economic activities are gaining momentum and soon this city would become darling of the investors.

To ensure lasting peace in Karachi, the tenure of this effective and non-political institution must be increased by two years to 2017 with special powers to ensure peace, foil terror attacks and success of Pak-China economic corridor, he demanded.

Lauding the one-month extension in stay of Rangers in Karachi, he said that Gen. Bilal Akbar and his team should get additional powers due to their unprecedented success in operations against criminals.

He also lauded the efforts and sacrifices of police saying that business community is with them in thick and thin.