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PM vows tough measures to tackle economic challenges, protect vulnerable

PM vows tough measures to tackle economic challenges, protect vulnerable

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PM vows tough measures to tackle economic challenges, protect vulnerable

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated on Thursday that the government was poised to make tough economic decisions to navigate the country out of crisis, while assuring to safeguard the interests of the downtrodden segments of society.

The premier was addressing a meeting of the apex committee of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), attended by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, Army Chief General Asim Munir and other relevant officials from across the country.

PM Shehbaz stated that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had concluded the review for the issuance of the last tranche of $1.1 billion, which was anticipated to be received by next month.

He said that the burden of these measures would primarily fall on the wealthy and elite, with safeguards in place to protect the interests of the poor and vulnerable.

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The premier stated that Pakistan aimed to initiate another programme with the IMF for a period of three years, during which the government would undertake strict measures to implement deep-rooted structural reforms in the country.

“With these reforms, we will gradually break the begging bowl and emerge from the debt trap,” he added.

The prime minister called for the support of all political parties and provincial governments to successfully implement the agenda of macroeconomic stability in the country.

He underscored the necessity of collaboration, stating, “For this, we will have to work together. With the support of all the provinces, we will collectively resolve all the challenges and difficulties faced by the country.”

Shehbaz highlighted the significance of the presence of chief ministers of all provincial governments, the army chief and other relevant officials from across the country, conveying a clear message to the nation that they had assembled for the cause of the country’s development, prosperity and integrity.

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He mentioned that the SIFC was established in June 2023 to eliminate bottlenecks in the investment process, and since then, nine meetings of the apex committee had been convened, along with more than 200 relevant meetings. Consequently, numerous important decisions had been taken and implemented under the Council’s auspices.

The premier noted that when the PDM government assumed office in 2022, Pakistan was on the brink of bankruptcy, but all coalition partners decided to save the country from default by putting their politics at stake.

Shehbaz lamented the drain of a significant portion of the country’s resources due to corruption, saying that while this year’s tax collection target was Rs9 trillion, its potential exceeded Rs1.3 trillion.

Similarly, he added, tax cases worth Rs2.7 trillion were pending resolution in tribunals or courts, which needed urgent attention.

PM Shehbaz highlighted that annual power theft in the country amounted to around Rs400 billion, while the combined circular debt of electricity and gas surpassed Rs5 trillion.

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Regarding the achievements of the interim government under the SIFC, the premier stated that due to measures against power theft, the caretaker setup saved Rs87 billion.

Strict measures were also implemented to curb smuggling and introduce reforms in the land information system, he noted, while adding that the privatisation process of Heavy Mechanical Complex (HMC) was successfully concluded.

PM Shehbaz accentuated the substantial losses incurred annually by state-owned enterprises, citing the example of PIA, which alone owed debts worth Rs825 billion.

Likewise, he said, the interim government signed several significant agreements with different countries to attract investment, including a $10 billion agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

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Govt wants more women in police department: Maryam Nawaz

Govt wants more women in police department: Maryam Nawaz

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Govt wants more women in police department: Maryam Nawaz

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said government wants to increase number of women in the police department.

Maryam, while addressing the passing-out parade ceremony at Chung Police Training College, said, “I salute you all. I am happy the first Sword of Honour has been awarded to a female police officer. I am proud of you. I was waiting for this event since taking oath as chief minister, she said.

“When I wore the police uniform for the first time, I realised it is a big responsibility,” said the chief minister and added she was happy to see 530 women passing out.

She said she happy to see women police officers performing duties.

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“When I wore the uniform for the first time today, I felt it was a big responsibility. I am proud of women serving in police department,” said CM Maryam.

She said there were 7,000 women police personnel serving in Punjab. “I want to increase women participation in Punjab police. Lady cops are superhuman. Women are soft hearted so they forgive.

However, there should be no tenderness in your heart for the oppressor,” said the chief minister and asked the lady police officers to take pity on the oppressed and hold the oppressor accountable for his misdeeds.

“THERE IS NO REVENGE IN MY HEART”

Maryam said there was no feelings of revenge in her heart. “If, being the chief minister, I decide something against someone, I do it with a heavy heart,” she said.

“To be a chief minister is not an easy task. I had to make hectic efforts reach this place,” she said.
She paid glowing tribute to her father Nawaz Sharif and uncle Shehbaz Sharif.

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PASSING OUT PARADE

Earlier, a passing out parade was held at Chung Police Training College. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz attended the ceremony as a special guest.

Maryam inspected the parade dressed in police uniform. She also distributed prizes to police officers who exhibited excellent performance.

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Supreme Court reinstates Balochistan Assembly speaker, annuls ECP’s decision

Supreme Court reinstates Balochistan Assembly speaker, annuls ECP’s decision

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Supreme Court reinstates Balochistan Assembly speaker, annuls ECP's decision

The Supreme Court on Thursday annulled the decision of Election Commission (ECP) and reinstated Balochistan Assembly Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai.

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, also annulled the ECP’s order of re-polling at 12 polling stations of PB 51 Chaman.

Justice Khan asked the ECP counsel under which regulation the commission ordered re-election at 12 polling stations?

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar remarked that the ECP considered only 12 polling stations but ignored others.

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Justice Khan remarked that the ECP had neither conducted an inquiry nor followed any rules. The DG Law submitted that the ECP took into account those 12 polling stations regarding which it had received plea. There was high voter turnout in these 12 polling stations.

Justice Mazhar said that the ECP should have taken into account the entire constituency. Had the ECP performed according to rules, people would not have had to come to court.

The court referred the case back to the ECP after consulting the parties and ordered the commission to decide the issue within 10 days.

It may be remembered that the ECP had ordered re-polling on the application of Khaliq’s opposing candidate Asghar Khan Achakzai and withdrew the notification of his success. PML-N’s candidate Khaliq challenged the ECP decision. 

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Govt, Opp prepare power-sharing framework for NA committees

Govt, Opp prepare power-sharing framework for NA committees

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Govt, Opp prepare power-sharing framework for NA committees

The government and opposition on Thursday prepared a power-sharing formula for formation of National Assembly committees, after which the negotiations entered the final stage.

The government alliance will get chairmanship of 26 committees of the National Assembly while opposition will have chairmanship of 11 committees.

Similarly, the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee will be from the opposition and the chairman of the Kashmir Committee will be appointed from the government side.

The speaker will be the chairman of the National Assembly House Business Advisory Committee.

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According to the framework, standing committees will have 13 members and Public Accounts Committee will have 16 members from the government alliance.

Likewise, Kashmir Committee will have 15 members while House Business Advisory will have 18 members from the coalition government.

The number of opposition members in the standing committees of the National Assembly, Public Accounts Committee and Kashmir Committee will be 7-7.

Apart from this, the chairman of 14 committees of the National Assembly will be from the Muslim League-N, while PPP will get chairmanship of eight committees.

MQM will get chairmanships of two committees. Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) will get one chairmanship each.

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10 committees will be chaired by independent members supported by PTI while one committee will be chaired by JUI.

Out of the 20 members of the standing committees, 14 members will be appointed from the government side and six from the opposition parties.

Each standing committee will have seven members from PML-N, four from PPP and one member each from PML-Q and MQM.

In the standing committee, five independent members of PTI and one member of JUI will be given membership as committee members.

Of the 23 members of the Public Accounts Committee, 16 MPs will be included from the government and seven from the opposition.
About 22 members of the Privileges Committee, 15 members will be included from the government and seven from the opposition side. Of 16 members in the government assurances committee, 11 will be from the government and five from the opposition.

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In the 22-member Kashmir Committee, the government’s quota will be 15 while the opposition will contribute with seven members. Of the 26 members of the House Business Advisory Committee, 18 will be from the government and eight from the opposition.

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