Address at the inauguration of ”Nishan” at the Inspectorate Of Vehicles and Engineering Equipment, Chaklala On March 22, 1973

On the eve of Pakistan’s National Day. It was a pleasure for me to witness the culmination of the Nishan Project which you all have to brought to fruition. This project ought to represent for our nation a spirit of self-reliance. It is through the wide spirit of application of this philosophy in all fields of our national endeavor that we can hope to achieve greatness. I have listened with interest what the Master General of Ordnance and the Chief inspector had to say about the Nishan Project and I must say that I am pleased with the progress that has been achieved in such a short time. It resounds to the credit of the industries, the officers and the staff without shoe combined efforts the Project would not have seen the light o the day.

Most gratifying to note, however, is the fact that large number of small and medium size industries have participated in this Project. I have always laid stress on the importance of achieving self-reliance if we are to take an honorable position in the comity of nations.

I, therefore, visualize in this Project a steady growth for our nascent automobile industry. It is a will known fact that automobile industry is one of the largest single contributor to the economic progress of all industrially advanced countries.

During the last world war, the automobile industry in Europe provided a solid base for the development of armored fighting vehicles. Aeroplanes, and other military hardware which has an important combat role.

Although the Project has been exclusively handled so far by the Pakistan Army but this is by no means a Project limited to the Armed Forces. It can truly be a national project. The production of military vehicle can be easily dovetailed with the production of commercial vehicles.

I am sure that if we pool our resources and take advantage of the skill available within the country, it should be possible for us to produce vehicles of a standard type which can be made available and are within the reach of the people.

I am sure that those who pioneered this Project and the firms which contributed towards its completion will work with more determined resolve to attain higher standards. The people expect the builders of the national economy to maintain the momentum generated by this pilot project and give a better account of themselves in the days to come.

The Chief Inspector’s report has hinted at some teething problems which I have no doubt are short-lived. The discrepancies will be removed as production progresses. We should remember that is only a beginning a project of our own, accomplished with limited resources.

I have great pleasure in inaugurating this Nishan Project. I repeat, it is only the beginning and we shall, Insha Allah, march from one goal to another. Let the Nishan be, for our reawakened nation, “Nishan-e-Mubarik.”