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Tag: Shehbaz Sharif

  • PM Shehbaz postpones UAE visit to ‘focus on rescue & relief’

    PM Shehbaz postpones UAE visit to ‘focus on rescue & relief’

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has on Thursday postponed his upcoming trip to United Arab Emirates (UAE) in order to focus on relief and rescue activities for flood victims in Pakistan.

    “I was set to visit the UAE on Sept 3 on the invitation of HH the President. We mutually decided to postpone the visit so that I could focus on the ongoing rescue & relief activities,” tweeted the PM.

    “We will forever be indebted to our brothers & sisters who have stood by us in this challenge,” wrote the premier thanking the Arab country for sending the first disbursement of relief goods worth $50 million for flood victims.

    Earlier, Foreign Minister and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari postponed his official visit to four European countries in August to focus on relief and rescue operations in disaster-hit zones.

    The Pakistan Army has also postponed Defense Day ceremony to express solidarity with flood victims.

    As a result of the devastating floods, the death toll stands at 1,191, with an estimation that nearly one-third of the country is swamped with flood waters leaving more than 30 million people displaced from their homes. Approximately 116 districts across the country have been affected.

    The unprecedented floods have wreaked havoc on the country’s infrastructure as well, with bridges, roads, dams, power lines, schools and houses damaged by raging waters.

    World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that 6.4 million people are in need of urgent help while 888 health facilities have been damaged by the floods.

  • ‘Its Bhatt, became Butt due to Punjabi dialect’: Muneeb Butt makes a revelation about his caste

    ‘Its Bhatt, became Butt due to Punjabi dialect’: Muneeb Butt makes a revelation about his caste

    Actor Muneeb Butt in his recent interview with host Tabish Hashmi, made some revelations about his caste. The Daldal star stated that his cast, pronounced as ‘Butt’ in Pakistan, is originally Bhatt. However when the Kashmiris migrated to Pakistani Punjab from India, the caste name became Butt from Bhatt due to the Punjabi dialect.

    “Originally it is Bhatt, not Butt, when Kashmiris migrated here, the name became Butt. People in Punjab pronounce words differently, such as bhai (brother) became paen. They don’t use B and H together.”

    Earlier in an interview with Waseem Badami did not hesitate to call out the government, which promised to give a Rs 2,000 monthly subsidy to all citizens earning less than Rs40,000.

    Shedding light on inflation, the Qarar hero had a hilarious response to what the government has to offer to the needy. He joked sarcastically and said he will marry off his daughter with that Rs2,000.

    “I have kept them in the bank. I will buy a plot with the remaining amount.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgbgAvONU1g

    In June 2022, Butt took to his Twitter handle to slam the ruling party after another increase in petrol prices.

    He also termed PML-N as a “weak party”.

    The Baandi hero also slammed writer and former journalist, Reham Khan on twitter amidst her recent controversy with actor Mishi Khan.

    Butt sarcastically told her that he wants to cast her as naagin (snake) in his forthcoming serial.

  • Modi extends condolences to families of the flood victims

    Modi extends condolences to families of the flood victims

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extends his condolences to the families of the flood victims in Pakistan.

    “Saddened to see the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the injured and all those affected by this natural calamity and hope for an early restoration of normalcy,” tweeted Modi.

    The devastating effects of floods across the country continue to rage on as monsoon rains have killed over 1,000 people and disrupted the lives of more than 5.7 million people.

    The federal and provincial governments are currently providing assistance to the displaced families and now the international community has also poured in their support.

    The Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha expressed “deep sorrow over the casualties, massive destruction of property and loss of life resulting from floods in Pakistan”.

    The United Nations (UN) is set to launch a Flash Appeal in support of Pakistan. The international platform will reportedly launch a $160 million appeal.

    Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Asim Iftikhar said that the appeal will be launched on Tuesday, August 30.

    Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that the country is currently providing support to Pakistan. “Like many Canadians across the country, I’m thinking of everyone affected by the devastating flooding in Pakistan. Canada is providing support through UNCERF and Red Cross Canada – to provide food, clean water, and other essential services as quickly as possible,” he tweeted.

    During a telephonic conversation between President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed with Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, the UAE President offered condolences and sympathy to the victims of the floods.

    PM Sharif thanked Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan for their support. Both country leaders had telephonic conversations with the premier.

    President Raisi and President Erdogan conveyed solidarity with Pakistan and assured support in relief assistance in all areas affected by heavy floods and rains.

    Moreover, PM Sharif thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for his support for the flood affectees.

    In a tweet, he said, “Grateful for President Emmanuel Macron’s message of support for the people of faced with devastating floods. We appreciate France’s solidarity and offer of help for the affected people in this hour of need.”

  • ‘Cancel your political engagements’: Nawaz Sharif directs party to help flood victims

    ‘Cancel your political engagements’: Nawaz Sharif directs party to help flood victims

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif urged the nation and directed his party leaders to come forward and help the flood affectees.

    “I will also request all PML-N MNAs and MPAs to cancel their political and other engagements and put all your energies into helping the flood victims,” said Sharif on Sunday (August 28).

    He highlighted that thousands of people have died and millions are left homeless and repeatedly urged the people to help the victims generously.

    Nawaz has also appealed to set up relief camps for flood affectees and has asked to provide them with tents to ensure shelter.

    Nawaz praised his brother Shehbaz Sharif’s efforts as prime minister who “has completely focused on providing relief to the victims and has cancelled all of his engagements”.

    “Together PM Shehbaz and Maryam will hold the hands of all affectees,” he added.

    The government warned on Sunday that the number of people affected by the devastating floods may cross 33 million.

    The death toll due to floods across Pakistan has reached 1,061.

    Maryam Nawaz visited Taunsa today (Monday) to meet the flood victims.

    https://twitter.com/pmln_org/status/1564183626471931904?s=20&t=BcJm6g7Pwx1zuB6R_nedqA

  • KP to open govt buildings for flood victims: CM Mahmood Khan

    Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Mahmood Khan has announced to open all the government buildings for the flood victims.

    According to Provincial Minister for Higher Education Kamran Khan Bangash, colleges, libraries and all higher education offices located in the flood-affected areas have been opened for the flood affectees.

    CM Khan will also pay a visit to flood-hit areas of Swat and Lower Dir today, a tweet from PTI’s official handle said.

    He will assess the damage caused by the floods and overview the relief efforts underway.

    The province witnessed another day of deaths on Saturday as three casualties have been reported today. The authorities in Nowshera renewed their call for evacuations amid a “very high flood” in the Kabul River.

    In KP, many hotels are also offering their services to accommodate displaced people.

    According to the latest statistics, nearly 1,000 people, including 300 children, have lost their lives because of floods. The devastating crisis has also impacted nearly 33 million people – almost 15 per cent of the country’s population.

    The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) tweeted that damages to optical fibre cables and power outages have been reported in some areas of KP.

    “PTA is monitoring the situation closely. Work is underway to fully restore services,” it said.

    More than 100 districts across four provinces have been hit by the floods. Balochistan’s capital Quetta isolated from the rest of the country as many highways and bridges have been swept away. Telephone and internet services were also disrupted in several parts of Balochistan due to damage caused by torrential rains.

    PM Shehbaz visits Sindh today

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif visited Faqirani Jat, Oplano, and other flood-affected areas of district Sajawal in Sindh province today (Saturday) to review the situation. Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah also accompanied the PM.

    COAS to visit flood-hit areas of Balochistan and Sindh today

    Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa will visit flood-hit areas of Balochistan and Sindh today. The army chief will get the latest update on the ground and meet the troops busy in rescue and relief efforts.

  • Twitter reacts to PM asking athletes to aim for ‘platinum medals’

    Twitter reacts to PM asking athletes to aim for ‘platinum medals’

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday met with athletes who won medals for the country in the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2022 and the Islamic Solidarity Games.

    The ceremony took place at the PM House in Islamabad, where athletes were awarded cash prizes.

    Medalist athletes including Altaf-ur-Rehman, Nooh But, and Arshad Nadeem also attended the ceremony.

    “I hope the athletes who won bronze [medal] will receive silver or gold medals in the future, and the athletes who won gold medals will receive platinum medals,” PM stated at the occasion.

    Since no platinum medals are awarded at the Commonwealth and Islamic Solidarity Games, the PM’s remarks have sparked a meme frenzy on Twitter.

    Here are some of the tweets:

    https://twitter.com/rizviregee/status/1562823249196527616?s=21&t=Wq7tQQKG4TBOOjU4zidelw

    PM’s tweet:

    “Honoured to host our players & athletes who made the country proud by winning various medals in the Commonwealth Games.  Their hard work and devotion were exemplary. Today I also announced the revival of departmental sports, which was a long-standing demand,” the PM wrote in a tweet.

    Ban on departmental sports lifted

    The PM has also lifted the ban on departmental sports. “The ban was imposed by the previous government, asking all public departments, corporations, and autonomous bodies to stop their funding of sports teams in 30 different disciplines,” the tweet from the Prime Minister’s office read.

    “The decision has led thousands to be jobless from the positions of departmental sports. “After taking office, PM pledged to restore departmental sports with the goal of promoting healthy games among the youth,” it added.

    https://twitter.com/PMO_PK/status/1562789257756155905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1562789257756155905%7Ctwgr%5E9efbbc4b5877cecaf9cfb88529c710c5868603db%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcurrentold.perceptiond.net%2F%3Fp%3D194013

  • Qatar to invest $3 billion in Pakistan following PM Shehbaz Sharif’s official visit

    Qatar to invest $3 billion in Pakistan following PM Shehbaz Sharif’s official visit

    The state-owned investment fund of Qatar plans to invest $3 billion in Pakistan, an official statement from the office of Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani said on Wednesday, August 24.

    The administrative office of Qatar’s emir released the statement as Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif held official talks with Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Doha after a meeting with the sovereign fund official the day before.

    In the statement, the $450 billion Qatar Investment Authority announced its “aspiration to invest $3 billion in various commercial and investment sectors in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan”.

    The PM thanked the Qatari Emir for his hospitality and the $3 billion investment in Pakistan.

    Shehbaz Sharif is returning to Pakistan today, August 25, after his two-day official visit to Qatar.

  • Can a ‘power hungry mad man’ trample the law, asks Zardari

    Can a ‘power hungry mad man’ trample the law, asks Zardari

    Former President Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan is “mad for power” ands said that the judiciary must see “whether this person is above the law”.

    “He is now targeting the judiciary and has threatened a woman judge in Islamabad. The judiciary has to see whether this person is above the law,” said Zardari.

    Zardari said that at the moment, one man’s hunger to be back in power is driving him mad with each passing day.

    “This man is subjecting our army to criticism on a daily basis and the same army is battling terrorists and sacrificing their lives for the country,” the PPP co-chairperson said.

    Zardari called upon the government to establish its writ.

    “Otherwise institutions will continue to be under attack from him,” warned Asif Zardari.

    Addressing a political gathering at Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh on Sunday (August 21), Khan said that according to the reports he had received, the neutrals were responsible for the crackdown against his party.

    Read more: ‘Neutrals ka pressure tha’: Imran Khan blames the establishment for crackdown on PTI

    “On May 25, when the police used violence against us, I was told by insiders that the police were ordered from above, which means that neutrals pressurised them to give PTI workers a thrashing,” said Khan. 

  • Bilawal Bhutto most vocal MNA during PTI tenure: PILDAT

    Bilawal Bhutto most vocal MNA during PTI tenure: PILDAT

    As the 15th National Assembly concluded its fourth parliamentary year, the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency (PILDAT) released analysis of its performance.

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was the most vocal lawmaker during the fourth year of the current National Assembly before the change in government, with a talk time of one hour and 59 minutes , according to PILDAT.

    PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif came in second and spoke for one hour and 57 minutes, followed by PML-N’s Khawaja Mohammad Asif who spoke for one hour and 27 minutes.

    During this period in the House of 342 members, 174 (50.88 per cent MNAs) did not speak for a single minute in the Assembly. Out of these 174 non-vocal MNAs, 149 were male and 25 were women MNAs. 84 of these MNAs (22 per cent of the House) belong to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), 48 MNAs are of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and 23 are affiliated with the PPP.

    PILDAT’s comparative analysis looked at the three years and eight months’ period of the National Assembly under former prime minister Imran Khan and also looks how the PTI tenure under Imran Khan as prime minister was different from the same period in the 14th National Assembly.

    Legislative activity witnessed a decrease of 8 per cent in the fourth year of the 15th National Assembly as it passed 55 laws compared to 60 bills passed during the third year of the Assembly. 30 bills were passed during the second year while only 10 bills were passed in the first year.

    However, in a comparison of legislation between four years of 15th and 14th National Assembly, the 15th National Assembly has passed 155 bills in the four-year-period while the 14th National Assembly had passed 125 bills in its first four years.

  • Punjab govt withdraws Sharif family’s security

    Punjab govt withdraws Sharif family’s security

    The Punjab police have withdrawn the security of the Sharif family except for Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif after the directives issued by the province’s Home Minister Colonel (retd) Muhammad Hashim.

    Muhammad Hashim said that PM Shehbaz will continue to get police security at the houses declared by him.

    “More than 500 policemen were deployed for the security of the Sharif family,” the police said, adding that security has also been withdrawn from Attaullah Tarar and other Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders.

    Previously, security was deployed outside the Jati Umrah and Model Town residences of the Sharif family.

    Earlier, the Punjab Police raided Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Attaullah Tarar’s old residence in Lahore. However, he was not present at his home and no one was arrested.