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Pakistan army deployed; govt may levy war surcharge

K J M Varma in Islamabad

President Pervez Musharraf said Pakistan's armed forces were "deployed everywhere" to give a matching response to any aggressive move, even as the government was reportedly considering levying war surcharge and a ban on heavy non-defence imports.

"Our troops are deployed everywhere to meet any challenge. If anybody attacks Pakistan, the country will be defended at all costs," Musharraf told a meeting of Islamic clerics on Thursday, according to the Pakistan daily The News.

During the meeting, Musharraf was reported to have devoted more time about his efforts to give a moderate image to Islam and to contain the activities of sectarian and extremist organisations.

The newspaper also said that the government was considering the imposition of a war surcharge in view of the heavy military build up at the Indo-Pak border. The tax could be levied in case of a war, it said.

Officials said the surcharge would be around five percent.

PTI

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