President General Pervez Musharraf Saturday called upon the nation to join hands in defeating obscurantism and strive for making Pakistan a progressive and democratic Islamic welfare state.

Greeting the nation on the 58th Independence Day, Musharraf also reaffirmed in his message the government's resolve to provide basic health and education facilities to people by 2007 on the back of strong economic growth achieved in the last six years.

He asked people to have pride in themselves as Pakistanis and come forward with their due role in addressing obscurantism.

"On this occasion, I appeal to every Pakistani to come forward and join hands to defeat the forces of obscurantism and negativism, which exist on the fringes of society. Have pride in yourselves as Pakistanis. The country needs you to stand up and be counted," he said.

Musharraf also urged people to strive for making Pakistan a truly modern, dynamic, progressive and democratic Islamic welfare state in accordance with the aspirations of the Muslims of South Asia and ideals of the founders of the nation.

He said Pakistan has been put on the path of sustainable democracy and that the main focus of the government now is to accelerate the transfer of economic benefits to the people.

"We are firmly committed to providing better health and education facilities to every citizen, and a comprehensive plan for the supply of safe drinking water and electricity to every household in Pakistan by the year 2007 is under implementation," Musharraf said.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, in his message, urged the people to renew their pledge on the independence day to do every thing possible to achieve the objectives of independence.

He said everyone should resolve to learn from past mistakes and work ceaselessly to build the homeland worthy of the ideals for which it was created.

The government, Aziz noted, is firmly committed to strengthening the democratic process and people's participation inthe affairs of the state.

"Pakistan today possesses a lot to be proud of but we still have to cover more ground to make our homeland a better place for the future generations as was envisioned by the Founding Fathers,"he added.

Source: Xinhua