ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Pervaiz Rashid on Saturday said the operation Zarb-e-Azb was launched to fight terrorists, stressing the need to start efforts for changing the mindset causing extremism.
“The operation Zarb-e-Azb was launched to eliminate terrorists but now the `pensive Zarb-e-Azb’ is crucial to eradicate the mindset behind extremism,” he said while talking to reporters at the inaugural ceremony of Dream Home Expo here at Pak-China Friendship Centre.
There was also a need to respect one another’s ideas and viewpoint, besides difference of opinion, he added.
The minister said the operation Zarb-e-Azb had achieved tremendous success against terrorists as brave army soldiers did render enormous sacrifices to help secure the lives of people.
“The government, headed by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, is making all-out efforts to wipe out the scourge of terrorism,” he added.
The minister said since extremism promoted terrorism, therefore `pensive Zarb-e-Azb’ was being initiated to eliminate the mindset, breeding extremism.
The Information Minister said the operation would continue till achievement of the objectives.
All resources would be utilized to fight extremist tendencies, Pervaiz said, adding terrorists’ network had been dismantled. They were now on the run after destruction of their weapon depots, training centers and communication systems, he added.
The media, he said, had an important role to play in that connection.
He said such an atmosphere would be ensured where each person respected the ideas and viewpoint of others.
Pervaiz Rashid said extremism would be eliminated from the country by promoting peaceful ideas and values while educational institutions and media would lead the drive in that regard.
Such literature, fiction, stories and write-ups would be promoted for ensuring an environment where love and peace would ultimately banish hatred and disharmony, he added.
To a question, the minister said the government believed in freedom of opinion and no one had the right to curb it in any manner.
The minister said the federal government under Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s leadership was engaged in eradication of terrorists while referring to ongoing rat-killing campaign in Peshawar. It seemed that Imran Khan was just busy in elimination of rats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he added.
He said billions of rupees were reportedly embezzled in the plantation campaign in KP and now the same was being carried out through rat-killing campaign.
“We’ll continue our mission to eradicate terrorism and laud the KP government if it succeeds in its mission to make the province rat-free,” he added.
On housing sector, the minister said it was the top priority of the government to provide residential facilities to the people. Media was playing a vital role in efforts to ensure better accommodation facilities to people, he added.
To a question, Pervaiz Rashid said Pakistan was facing three major challenges of terrorism, energy crisis and poor economy in 2013 when the incumbent government led by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif took over. However, it formulated a comprehensive strategy to overcome the challenges, he added.
