'Pak's nuke assets essential for regional peace'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday said its nuclear assets were essential for peace in the region and stressed that they are well protected.

"Never will Pakistan allow its nuclear assets to be compromised at any cost", Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told a Cabinet meeting.

Pakistan's nuclear assets, which are under a Command and Control structure, are well protected, Aziz informed the Cabinet adding they are essential for peace in the region. The Prime Minister also informed the Cabinet that the Presidential elections would be held between September 15 and October 15.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has already announced the appointment of returning officers for the Presidential Elections. The Commission will announce the schedule for filing of nominations and the date for the Presidential polls.

The Cabinet also allowed Pakistan's participation in the multinational biennial military exercises to be conducted jointly by the American CENTCOM and Egyptian armed forces in November 2007 in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Cabinet allowed the Ministry of Defence to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between Pakistan and Egypt so as to enable the Pakistan Navy to participate in the military exercises, an official statement said.

The Cabinet ratified the Protocol on the preferential tariff scheme for Trade Preference System among the participating member states of OIC. The Cabinet approved agreement between Pakistan and Uzbekistan on cooperation in the field of transport and transit of goods.

The Cabinet also gave approval to the Interior Ministry to start negotiations on the visa abolition agreement for holders of diplomatic and official passports between Pakistan and Brunei Darussalam.