Gilani assures full support to strengthen Pakistan Navy

      ISLAMABAD, Oct 17 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani
Monday said government would continue to extend full support to
strengthen defense capabilities of the Pakistan Navy.
      He was talking to the newly inducted Chief of Naval Staff
Admiral M Asif Sandila here at the Prime Minister House.
      Prime Minister asked the Naval Chief to continue the policy of
induction of women as officers and sailors in the Pakistan Navy as
his government did not believe in gender discrimination and was
committed to mainstream them in the nation building.
      The Prime Minister also directed the Naval Chief to encourage
recruitment of Baloch youth in the Navy like Pakistan Army that had
recruited around 6,000 people of the province.
      The Prime Minister said the Pakistan Navy should also open up
recruitment centers, educational institutions and hospitals in
remote and less developed areas of the country especially in
Balochistan, Sindh and Southern Punjab.
      The Prime Minister said completion of the road between Gwadar
and Ratodero would connect the port city with the rest of the
country and boost trade activities. He hoped it would also increase
many times operational activities at the port.
      The Prime Minister said the democratic government was also
building an international port at Gwadar to serve as a convenient
aerial bridge with the rest of the country and the world.
      Prime Minister Gilani said he had already issued instructions
that all the activities relating to the import of fertilizer and
export of wheat be handled by the Gwadar Port to use its potential
and also prove its competitiveness so far as operational
capabilities are concerned.
      The Prime Minister appreciated the relief efforts of the
Pakistan Navy during the catastrophic rains in the interior Sindh by
dropping food bags in the areas cut off due to the stranded rain
water.
      He particularly noted the well-planned operation at Sanghir,
Tharparker and Mirpurkhas to save lives in the aftermath of
unprecedented rains.
      Admiral Sandila expressed gratitude for reposing confidence in
him and assured he would spare no effort to come up to the
expectations of the nation in the defense of the country.