As a nation, we face challenges, some of them undeniably tough, like the threat of extremism, a troubled economy, a growing drug problem, and most recently, a humanitarian crisis of unimaginable proportions. However, through all this, one thing remains intact and that is our democracy. The resilience of our democracy is not found at the hands of one individual or one office. Rather it takes root in our parliament, our judiciary, our army, our media, and most of all, our people.

Traditionally, the ballot box has been the democratic niche of the Pakistani people. However innovations in technology have allowed for new ways for people to be engaged in the democratic process on a more dynamic and frequent basis. This is where our new president.gov.pk website comes in to play.

Our efforts on this new site will center around three priorities:

Dialogue- A democratic official finds his or her strength as a leader through interaction with the people. Through interactive elements of the website such as Facebook, YouTube, and Flickr, we intend to foster meaningful dialogue between the President and the public.

Information - The issues facing Pakistan such as our war against terror, economic reforms, and domestic politics require a source of reliable and up-to-date information. This website will feature timely and detailed content on the President's efforts including recent Press Releases, Recent News, Multimedia, and of course, this blog. Keeping the public informed is a fundamental pillar of our government, and this website will allow us to constantly share our efforts, initiatives, policies, and activities with the citizens and the international community.

Global Engagement- This website is not intended for a domestic audience only. It is also intended to engage the international community by understanding Pakistan's complex reality. Terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, and organized crime need to be seen in terms of their root causes. They thrive on ignorance, deprivation and poverty. Countries need greater cooperation to effectively tackle them. As Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto once said,"Democracy needs support and the best support for democracy comes from other democracies." This website is an invitation for fellow nations to see the real Pakistan -- a Pakistan that they have yet to know and understand.

This website will continue to be a work in progress as we develop new features and content. We would like to hear from you. What would you like to see on this website? If you have an idea, let us know.