RAWALPINDI: Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday said that national security was intimately linked to economy while prosperity was function of balance in security needs and economic growth.

Addressing the concluding session of seminar on ‘Interplay of economy and security’ hosted by him in Rawalpindi, he said the aim of various discussions and seminars was to bring stakeholders at one platform to formulate recommendations for a synergistic way forward.

Also Read: Pakistan’s fight is now against poverty, unemployment, economic backwardness: Army Chief

He apprised the business community about improved internal security environment of the country which had enabled space for increased economic activity. He said accessibility and responsiveness of the government economic team to business community and displayed understanding between public and private institutions were good signs for intended positive trajectory in economic activity.

The Government Economic Team, on the occasion, apprised business community about initiatives introduced by the government to facilitate businesses and the encouraging results of stabilization efforts on national economy.

The business community shared suggestions with the government team to further improve environment for ease of doing businesses and assured the government that they will cooperate in implementation of government reforms. They said they will also play their part by paying taxes and investing in a socially and economically responsible manner.

The Army Chief, at the end, thanked all participants for purposeful utilization of the joint forum by stake holders for discussion and seminars leading to formulation of policy recommendations for subsequent processes and implementation.

On Sept 6, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa had said Pakistan’s fight now was against poverty, unemployment and economic backwardness following successfully confronting the menace of terrorism.

Paying tributes to the martyrs and Ghazis, while addressing a main ceremony in connection with Defense and Martyrs Day at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, the army chief had said the entire nation was proud of their courage and resolve.  He said those sacrifices and courage and resolve of the entire nation was the guarantee of bright future of Pakistan.