Sada-e-Watan Sydney ™
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President Pervez Musharraf has successfully landed in Islamabad after
completing his long visit to Australia and New Zealand. Musharraf landed at
Islamabad airport and arrived in Pakistan on 20th June Monday Morning.
President Pervez Musharraf has described his week long visit to Australia and
New Zealand as extremely successful in terms of economic, political and
diplomatic gains. Talking to media persons on board his special plane on way
back home the President said the two countries have committed to assist Pakistan
in the agriculture, dairy farming, livestock, food and fruit processing, yield
intensification and education.
The President said the focus of his visit was on seeking assistance for
agro-based industry as the development of this vital sector will create more
jobs opportunities and help reduce poverty in the rural areas. He said it
is significant that as a result first direct contact with these countries
economic, trade and political bonds would be further enhanced. The President
said during his interactions in Canberra and Auckland areas of cooperation were
identified and they are ready to assist us in these areas. General Pervez
Musharraf said that cooperation in education would be extremely beneficial for
Pakistan as the two countries agreed to provide seven hundred fully funded
scholarships to Pakistani students to peruse their studies in the institutions
of higher learning of Australia and New Zealand. The President said the
leadership of New Zealand and Australian landed Pakistan's critical role as a
front line state in the war against terrorism and acknowledged that the campaign
could not have been successful without an active support and participation of
Pakistan. General Pervez Musharraf said he has been striving to improve
perceptions about Pakistan and if such perceptions are changed this would be his
greatest contribution in ensuring that Pakistan emerges in the world as a
moderate progressive and dynamic Islamic state. The leadership of Australia and
New Zealand praised the personal courage of the President for his critical role
in the fight against terrorism. They are fully committed to providing Pakistan
assistance and expertise in the identified areas of cooperation.
The President has now returned home.
Those who attended the visit's included Minister for Industries, Jehangir
Tareen, Chairman Higher Education Commission, Dr. Attaur Rehman, Chairman Export
Promotion Bureau, Tariq Ikram, Foreign Secretary Riaz M. Khan, Information
Secretary Shahid Rafi and Pakistan High Commissioner to Australia & New Zealand
Mr Babar Malik and Deputy High Commissioner to Australia & New Zealand Sarfraz
Khanzada.