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Tag: PM Shehbaz Sharif

  • IMF board approves disbursement of $1.17 billion in bailout funds

    IMF board approves disbursement of $1.17 billion in bailout funds

    The seventh and eighth reviews of Pakistan’s bailout programme were approved by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) board on Monday, releasing $1.17 billion to the cash-strapped nation.

    Pakistan is now set to get a $1.17 billion loan tranche from the international lender within the next six days.

    “Alhamdolillah, the IMF board has approved the revival of our EFF programme. We should now be getting the seventh and eighth tranche of $1.17 billion,” said Finance Minister Miftah Ismail in a tweet announcing the news.

    Additionally, the Finance Minister praised the Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, “for taking so many tough decisions and saving Pakistan from default.”

    The previous payment was made to Pakistan in February, and the subsequent tranche was scheduled to be released following a review in March.

    However, the PTI government drastically reduced petroleum prices by providing substantial subsidies to the country, which caused the program’s fiscal objectives to be missed.

  • Flood Emergency: Here is how you can help

    Flood Emergency: Here is how you can help

    At least 982 people have died in floods caused by heavy rains in different parts of the country, according to the most recent data issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

    You can help the flood victims by donating to the following government and private organisations.

    PM Flood Relief Fund:

    All Pakistanis could join the work of helping flood victims through donations. All commercial banks and their branches could collect donations in the Prime Minister Flood Relief Fund 2022 as per the State Bank of Pakistan circular.

    Akhuwat foundation:
    The Indus Hospital
    The First Step:

    Bank Name: MCB
    Account Title: Ridha Tahir
    Account No: 1330908731003018

    For International transactions:
    IBAN Number:
    PK84MUCB1330908731003018

    Govt. of Balochistan:

    Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan:

    Women Democratic Front:

    Edhi Foundation:

    EDHI Foundation Pakistan flood relief teams are on the ground all across flood-affected areas in Pakistan. You can go to their website to make donations.

    Muslim Aid UK
  • ‘Nation grieves’: Lt Col Laiq Baig Mirza martyred by terrorists in Balochistan

    ‘Nation grieves’: Lt Col Laiq Baig Mirza martyred by terrorists in Balochistan

    Lieutenant Colonel Laiq Baig Mirza embraced martyrdom after being abducted by terrorists in Ziarat District, Balochistan.

    According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Shaheed Lt Col Baig and his cousin Umer Javed were kidnapped by terrorists when they were both returning to Quetta after visiting Quaid-e-Azam’s residency.

    Quick Response Force (QRF) of SSG Commandos was dispatched instantly for a search operation.

    “Resultantly, on the night between July 13 and July 14, a group of six to eight terrorists was spotted moving in a nullah in nearby mountains by one of the teams of security forces. On sensing their possible encirclement, terrorists shot Lt Col Mirza and attempted to flee,” said the military’s media wing.

    Later, the exchange of fire between the army and the terrorist group resulted in the killing of two terrorists. However, Lt Col Mirza’s cousin Umer couldn’t be recovered.

    A search operation is still underway to recover Umer Javed.

    The ISPR said that the forces are determined to recover the innocent civilian hostage. “Security Forces remain resolute to thwart such cowardly attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan.”

    PM Shehbaz and CM Balochistan extend condolences

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif tweeted, “Deeply grieved over the martyrdom of Lt Col Laiq Baig Mirza in Balochistan. Our law enforcement agencies will hunt down all those who perpetrated this heinous crime and bring them to justice. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family. The nation grieves with them and shares their sorrow.”

    Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister (CM) Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo also expressed sorrow at Lt Col Baig’s martyrdom.

  • PM Shehbaz, Imran Khan wish Hajj Mubarak to Muslims across the globe

    PM Shehbaz, Imran Khan wish Hajj Mubarak to Muslims across the globe

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the ones who have received the blessings of Hajj-e-Akbar.

    In a series of tweets, PM Shehbaz said this is a blessed occasion to pray for the prosperity of mankind and its deliverance from epidemics and diseases.

    He prayed for the freedom of occupied Palestine and Kashmir to save the oppressed people. He also urged the nation to offer special prayers for elevation in the ranks of martyrs.

    “May Allah Almighty bring Pakistan out of its debt situation with the blessings of Hajj-e-Akbar and grant us economic self-reliance,” he added.

    Similarly, former PM and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan shared a picture and wished Hajj to the Muslims on his Instagram handle.

    He wrote, “Hajj Mubarak to Muslims across the globe!”

    There are several politicians who are performing Hajj this year, including seven members of PTI and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q). Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani is also performing Hajj this year.

    84,000 Pakistanis proceeded to the plains of Arafat today (Friday) to perform the Rukn-e-Azam of the Hajj known as “Waqoof-e-Arafat”.

  • ‘Will never compromise on defence and security of Pakistan’: PM Shehbaz

    ‘Will never compromise on defence and security of Pakistan’: PM Shehbaz

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif expressed commitment to restoring the role of provinces in the National Action Plan (NAP), which the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had allegedly ignored, in a meeting on 26 June.

    The 20-point NAP was drawn up after the December 2014 terrorist attack on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar.

    Sharif was of the view that the increase in terrorism was due to the ignorance of the NAP.

    “This role of the provinces will be restored that remained missing during the last four years,” said the PM.

    “Ensuring law and order is essential for restoring the national economy and development in the country. The fight against terrorism would continue till its elimination,” said Shehbaz. He further pledged to never compromise on the defence and security of Pakistan.

    He said that the entire country was united in the effort to eradicate terrorism, standing behind the armed forces and law-enforcement agencies.

    The meeting also reviewed the steps taken to eliminate the source of terror financing and relevant laws.

  • Citizens will be given CPR training to save lives: Govt

    Citizens will be given CPR training to save lives: Govt

    Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the commencement of a countrywide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training programme in order to save lives in situations where medical help is unavailable.

    “National movement on CPR Training. CPR has saved countless lives around the world at places where immediate medical assistance is limited. Let’s learn & be a responsible citizen,” tweeted Head of Prime Minister of Pakistan’s Strategic Reforms Salman Sufi.

    A comprehensive strategy would be announced later.

    The development came after a video of a female doctor and her husband went viral on social media in which they administered CPR to save the life of a kid who was recovered from the Nultar River near Gilgit.

  • ‘Take a plane for Tiktok videos’, Kangana Ranaut thinks Qatar Airways spoof video is ‘real’

    ‘Take a plane for Tiktok videos’, Kangana Ranaut thinks Qatar Airways spoof video is ‘real’

    Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut seems to have fallen for a spoof, again.

    Spoof video

    After Qatar rebuked India for the derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) made by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal, #BycottQatarAirways started trending on Indian Twitter.

    An Indian Twitter user ‘Vashudev’ posted a video calling for the boycott of Qatar Airways.

    Later, a spoof video with Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker replying to Vashudev’s boycott call in an interview with Al Jazeera went viral.

    “Vashudev is our biggest shareholder with a total investment of ₹634.50 rupees. We don’t know how to operate anymore. We have grounded all the flights … we are requesting Vashudev to take this call for boycott back. This is a special kind of boycott because it is b-y-c-o-t-t. Vashudev habibi, we are willing to give you one whole plane to make your TikTok videos or maybe we can give you two litres of petrol free. Please consider our offer and take the boycott back,” Qatar Airways CEO’s voiceover says in the spoof video.

    Kangana shares spoof video on Instagram

    After the spoof video went viral, Kangana Ranauat shared it on her Instagram stories, thinking the video is ‘real’.

    “This idiot of a man has no shame bullying a poor man mocking his insignificance and place in the world…Vasudev may be poor and insignificant for a rich man like you but he has the right to express his grief, pain and disappointment in whatever context it may be… remember there is a world beyond this world where we all are equal,” wrote Kangana in one of her Insta stories.

    She continued: “All so called Indians who are cheering this bully for making fun of a poor man remember this is exactly why you all are a big bojh [burden] on this over populated country.”

    Kangana later deleted her Instagram stories after journalist and fact-checker Mohammed Zubair informed her that it was a voiceover video made by an Indian.

    Kangana shares fake Shehbaz Sharif screenshot

    This is not the first time that Kangana has fallen for fake news.

    In May, Kangana shared a screenshot on her Instagram stories that featured Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s praise for her craft and performance in Dhaakad.

    However, the screenshot featured an imposter account of PM Shehbaz and not the real one.

    READ MORE: Did Shehbaz Sharif praise Kangana Ranaut? Indian actress shares screenshot

  • PM Shehbaz directs power authorities to reduce load-shedding to two hours

    PM Shehbaz directs power authorities to reduce load-shedding to two hours

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif instructed the power authorities on June 4 to reduce load-shedding throughout the country to two hours, alerting that he wanted results rather than explanations.

    As per a report from ARY News, PM Shehbaz Sharif, who presided over a meeting to resolve the challenge of hours-long unexpected load-shedding in the country, asked power division officials and federal ministers to do whatever was essential to reduce load-shedding to two hours per day.

    While dismissing explanations for the duration of load-shedding, PM Shehbaz stated that officials should minimise the sufferings of the general public rather than furnishing justifications.

    “I only wanted to provide relief to the masses and will not accept the ongoing situation of load-shedding,” a defiant PM stated that he will not compromise and will not allow any minister or official to relax until the problem is resolved.

    He instructed officials to work around the clock to bring power to businesses. The prime minister also aimed the finance minister to secure all necessary resources to address the problem. It is worth noting that Pakistan’s generation capacity has deteriorated, with the power disparity reaching over 7,000 megawatts.

    As per power division sources, the country’s electricity demand has risen to 27,200 megawatts due to the hot weather. The length of unannounced load-shedding across the country has also been elevated to 14 hours. “There is a nationwide power production of 20,000MW, resulting in a shortfall of 7200 MW,” they added.

    According to reliable sources, the country presently acquires 4,635 megawatts of electricity from hydropower, 1,060 megawatts from thermal power plants, and 9,677 megawatts from IPPs. Considering the findings, 3 key power companies have shuttered 16 power plants in Pakistan largely owing to a shortage of fuel.

  • ‘Beloved brother’ Shehbaz in Turkey, trade to be expanded from $1bn to $5bn

    ‘Beloved brother’ Shehbaz in Turkey, trade to be expanded from $1bn to $5bn

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif’s formal visit to Turkey, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, will bring bilateral ties a “new dimension”.

    After a meeting in Ankara, he made the remarks, “On the 75th anniversary of our diplomatic ties, we hosted my beloved brother Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. We are prepared to further develop Türkiye-Pakistan relations in light of the two nations’ shared history, friendship, and potential,” Cavusoglu stated on Twitter.

    PM Shehbaz arrived in Istanbul on Tuesday for a three-day official visit, his first since becoming the PM of Pakistan in April.

    According to a Foreign Ministry statement, the premier stressed the significance of growing bilateral trade volume to $5 billion over the next three years.

    “The Prime Minister noted that the bilateral relations were exceptionally warm as the people of the two countries shared special bonds that dated back centuries,” the ministry said in a statement.

    He also emphasised the two countries’ shared interests on a number of regional and international issues, according to the report.

    He said Islamabad aimed to strengthen bilateral trade and cultural ties with Ankara in his address to the Turkey-Pakistan Business Council on Tuesday evening.

  • PM wants collective efforts to eradicate polio, three cases in two months

    PM wants collective efforts to eradicate polio, three cases in two months

    Pakistan reported its third polio case this year, a few months after Pakistan marked one year of being polio-free.

    Addressing a meeting of the National Task Force on Polio Eradication in Islamabad on Wednesday, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif urged for a concerted effort to eradicate polio in Pakistan. The meeting was informed that three polio cases were reported in North Waziristan during the months of April and May this year but no polio case was reported in the period between February 2021 and March 2022. PM Shehbaz expressed his concern about recent polio cases in the country and stated that the federal government will provide all available assistance and cooperation in the fight against the illness.

    He said that all parties, including federal departments, provincial governments, and international organisations, had contributed significantly to the country’s polio eradication campaign. PM kickstarted a polio campaign today (May 18).

    Read more- Pakistan reports two polio cases, girl and boy paralysed

    Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries where polio has not yet been eradicated. To formally eradicate the disease, a nation must be polio-free for three consecutive years. Nigeria was declared free from wild polio in August 2020.