Sheikh Umer Rehan, Chairman of the Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association (PVMA), has paid tribute to the soldiers who recently laid down their lives in terrorist attacks, calling them “the pride of the nation.” He said Pakistan will remain forever indebted to those officers and soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country’s security and defense.

Rehan expressed concern over the renewed surge in terrorist activities across the country, warning that the escalating wave of violence poses a serious threat to national security, the economy, and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

Citing the Global Terrorism Index 2025, he noted that Pakistan remains among the countries most severely affected by terrorism. “For the past 25 years, Pakistan has been a frontline state in the war against terror,” he said, adding that the country has suffered economic losses exceeding $150 billion and lost thousands of soldiers and civilians in the fight.

The PVMA chairman reaffirmed that the business community stands shoulder to shoulder with the government and the armed forces in combating terrorism. He stressed that Pakistan now needs a comprehensive and effective national strategy to deal with this growing threat.

Rehan urged the government to focus on both security measures and economic reforms to ensure sustainable peace, national stability, and the restoration of investor confidence.