Entire nation is indebted to the sacrifices of our armed forces: Anwaarul Haq Kakar

ISLAMABAD, August 24 (SABAH): Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has awarded appreciation letters and mementoes to members of the armed forces, district administration and local people for successful rescuing the people trapped in a cable car in Battagaram area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

A ceremony to this effect was held in Islamabad on Thursday. Officers and officials of Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, Special Services Group, district administration and local people were among those, who received the appreciation letters. Besides, the people, rescued in the incident, were also given mementoes.

Addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar appreciated the armed forces, district administration and locals who were involved in planning and executing this rescue effort.                                                                                                              

He said every Pakistani felt the pain and agony of those who were trapped in the chairlift. The Prime Minister said the rescued children have told me that when they saw Pak army soldiers they felt relieved that they will be saved now. He said this is the strength of the bond between state and its citizens.               

He said the entire nation is indebted to the sacrifices of our armed forces who have never left any stone unturned for the cause of the country.    

The Caretaker PM said credit went to all who did splendid job of successfully managing the whole operation. He said the whole nation was worried about the fate of the schoolchildren and a teacher who remained stuck up in the chairlift for the whole day.

He said this was a collective effort and credit also went to those praying for their safe evacuation while sitting at home.

Caretaker PM Kakar said state’s prime responsibility was to provide quality health and education and provide people the opportunity to live a dignified life, which he said the state was doing.

However, he warned that the elements who wanted to stop the state from fulfilling its prime responsibilities through power should not be misunderstood as the state was in safe hands of very able people.

He said the caretaker government had very limited time and its only mandate was to assist the general elections.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt General Inaam Haider Malik on the occasion said the authority in collaboration with the PDMA would enhance the capacities of the of local administration, rescue 1122 and other relevant institutions at district level to cope with any such events that might occur in future.