Ban lauds Pakistan's efforts for peace

 United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during his two-day official visit to Pakistan inaugurated the Centre for International Peace and Stability (CIPS) at National University of Science and Technology (NUST) and lauded on Tuesday efforts by Pakistan in peace keeping. According to an official press release, Ban praised the services Pakistani troops for UN by saying that the history of UN's peacekeeping efforts was incomplete without mentioning Pakistan's immense contribution for peace and security. He said, "Pakistan's engagement with the United Nations has been crucial in carrying out wider peacekeeping across the globe." Over 8,000 Pakistani finest men and women soldiers are deputed with UN peacekeepers in different parts of the world including Liberia, Western Sahara and Ivory Coast. The UN Chief said that the sacrifices of 136 Pakistani peacekeepers could not be ignored who lost their lives during the country's 50-year affiliation with the UN peacekeeping. Ban said an incident in one part of the world could affect the rest of the globe and termed the training of troops as a strategic investment in peacekeeping. He added that besides peace, the people across the world needed food, education, energy, employment, human rights and human dignity. Sustainability of peace was more important, he said, and recalled that he had reaffirmed this message during his world tour along with the President of World Bank. He expressed hope that the UN and Pakistan would together pursue their shared goals of global peace. The Chief of the Army Staff General, Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani, the Premier Advisor on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid and Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN Masood Khan also attended the meeting.