Page 67 - Pakistan

PM Shehbaz Sharif vows to revive Pakistan economy; to secure G20 membership

Pakistan's newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday vowed to do a "deep surgery" and bring changes in the system to bring the cash-strapped country out of the alarming debt crisis and secure G20 membership by 2030. Shehbaz, who was the consensus candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), became the Prime Minister on Sunday for a second time after receiving 201 votes in the 336-member Parliament.

Shehbaz Sharif becomes Pakistan's Prime Minister for a second time

Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday became the prime minister of Pakistan for a second time to lead a coalition government after he comfortably won a majority in the newly-elected Parliament. Shehbaz, 72, who was the consensus candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), received 201 votes in the 336-member house.

Pakistan to take up resolution seeking permanent ban on social media sites

Amidst serious concerns over the continued disruption of the social media platform X in Pakistan for over a fortnight now, a member of the Senate has demanded a permanent ban on all social media due to its negative impact on the younger generation. Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi, who was recently expelled by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) after he moved a resolution seeking the delaying of the February 8 polls, in the resolution called for a complete ban on all social media platforms, deeming them detrimental to the future of the young generation, Dawn News reported. The resolution is listed on the agenda of the Senate session for Monday. Senator Tangi, who is set to retire on March 11, said: Social media platforms are adversely affecting the young generation in the country [and] being used for promotion of norms against our religion and culture, creating hatred among people on the grounds of language and religion." The resolution notes with concern the use of such platforms agains

Shehbaz set to return as Pak's PM after old-guard parties form coalition

Sharif was prime minister until parliament was dissolved in August in the leadup to elections, and he handed power to a caretaker government

PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif set to become Pakistan's PM for second time

Top PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif is set to become the 33rd prime minister of Pakistan on Sunday, once again leading a coalition government, amidst allegations of rigging of polls and facing staggering economic and security challenges. Shehbaz, who is the joint candidate of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has already submitted his nomination.

Pak-bound ship from China with military-grade items stopped at Mumbai port

A Karachi-bound ship from China was stopped by Indian security agencies at Mumbai's Nhava Sheva port on the suspicion that it contained a dual-use consignment that could be used for Pakistan's nuclear and ballistic missiles programme, officials here said on Saturday. The customs officials, based on an intelligence input, halted a Malta-flagged merchant ship -- CMA CGM Attila -- at the port en route to Karachi on January 23 and inspected the consignment, which included a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine, originally manufactured by an Italian company. CNC machines are basically controlled by a computer and produce a scale of efficiency, consistency and accuracy not possible manually. A Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) team also inspected the consignment and certified that it could be used by the neighbouring country for its nuclear programme. According to the experts, the equipment would be useful in manufacturing critical parts for Pakistan's missile ...

Ship with dual-use consignment for Pak's nuclear programme halted at Mumbai

A Karachi-bound ship from China was stopped by Indian security agencies at Mumbai's Nhava Sheva port on suspicion that it contained a dual-use consignment that could be used for Pakistan's nuclear and ballistic missile programme, officials here said on Saturday. The customs officials, based on an intelligence input, halted a Malta-flagged merchant ship -- CMA CGM Attila -- at the port en route to Karachi on January 23 and inspected the consignment, which included a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine, originally manufactured by an Italian company. CNC machines are basically controlled by a computer and produce a scale of efficiency, consistency and accuracy not possible manually. A team of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) also inspected the consignment and certified that it could be used by the neighbouring country for its nuclear programme. According to the experts, the equipment would be useful in manufacturing critical parts for Pakistan's missile ...

PPP's Sarfraz Bugti elected Balochistan Chief Minister

Months after stepping down as the caretaker interior minister, Pakistan Peoples Party's Sarfraz Bugti was on Saturday elected unopposed as the new chief minister of the restive Balochistan province. Bugti, who recently joined the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and enjoyed the support of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), submitted his nomination papers with Assembly Secretary Tahir Shah on Friday, Dawn News reported. PPP leader and former chief minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri and PML-N leader Nawab Gangeez Khan Marri proposed his name. No other candidate filed nomination papers till 5 pm on Friday. Bugti's nomination papers were accepted after scrutiny by the secretary, who also announced that he had been elected unopposed. The official announcement of Bugti's election as the leader of the House will be made during the assembly session on Saturday. Bugti is also expected to be administered the oath later in the day by Balochis

Pakistan dismisses US directions on probing alleged election rigging

Pakistan has dismissed the US suggestion to probe discrepancies in the February 8 general elections, asserting that it will not succumb to external dictates. Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch in her weekly press address on Friday categorically said that "no country could give directions" to Pakistan, an independent and sovereign nation. We believe in our own sovereign right to make decisions about Pakistan's internal affairs, Dawn News quoted Baloch as saying in reply to the comments made by her US counterpart regarding allegations of misconduct in the controversy-marred general elections. Earlier this week, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said any claims of interference or fraud should be fully and transparently investigated per Pakistan's laws and procedures. On another occasion, Miller said: Concerning investigations into reported irregularities, we want to see those investigations proceed [and] wrapped up as soon as possible.

Race for new Pakistan finance minister heats up ahead of IMF negotiations

Former four-time finance minister Ishaq Dar remains the top contender, according to two sources in his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party

Contempt plea filed in Pak court over not naming 'chowk' after Bhagat Singh

A contempt petition was filed in a Pakistani court on Friday against the Punjab provincial government and the district administration for not naming the Shadman Chowk in Lahore after Indian Independence war hero Bhagat Singh. The petition, which was filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) by Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation chairman Advocate Imtiaz Rashid Qureshi, seeks contempt proceedings against the Punjab Chief Secretary, Lahore Deputy Commissioner and the city administration for violating the order of the court that had directed naming the Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh. Talking to PTI, Advocate Qureshi said that the LHC in 2018 had ordered the government to name the Shadman Chowk after Singh where he was hanged in 1931. "But both the provincial and district governments deliberately did not comply with the court's order and this committed contempt," he said. He said the court is likely to take up the petition on Monday. Singh fought for the independence of the subcontinent from

Pakistan to elect president on March 9, Asif Ali Zardari likely to win

Pakistan's election commission on Friday announced that the polling for the presidential election will take place on March 9, with former president Asif Ali Zardari almost certain to bag the top constitutional post again after nearly 11 years. In a notice, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that the presidential election would be held on March 9 at the National Assembly and all the provincial assemblies from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Geo News reported. According to the schedule issued by the top electoral body, candidates for the office can submit nomination papers by Saturday before noon with the presiding officers in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta. The scrutiny of the papers by the returning officers will be done on March 4, the ECP said, adding that the candidature can be withdrawn the next day. The commission will publish the list of validly nominated candidates on the same day, and March 6 has been fixed as the date for retirement, the report said. Former preside

Three time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif takes oath as lawmaker

Three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday took oath as an ordinary lawmaker in the 16th session of Pakistan's National Assembly, days after giving up his bid to lead the country for a record fourth time. A quirk of fate following the poor show in the electoral battle led Nawaz, 74, the supremo of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party to abandon his claim to the prime minister's position to his younger brother Shehbaz, 72. Sharif is back in Parliament after seven long years. His terms as the prime minister include the first from 1990-1993, then 1997-1999, and the last from 2013-2017, none of them for a complete five years. Amid sloganeering, Nawaz Sharif took oath along with his brother Shehbaz. Historic visuals from the 16th National Assembly oath-taking ceremony! the PML-N X handle posted along with a hashtag #MeraQuaidPhirSeAya and a 1:18 minute video. The video showed the smiling elder Sharif entering the Parliament, then walking towards the many member

Basmati rice exports to fall following surge in supply from Pakistan

Basmati rice shipments helped the world's biggest rice exporter to garner a record $5.4 billion in 2023, up nearly 21% from the previous year, because of higher prices, government data showed

Burger Singh says website defaced by Pakistani hackers; restored now

Home-grown quick service restaurant chain Burger Singh on Thursday said Pakistani hackers defaced the company's website, which has now been restored. The company took to social media with a tinge of humour to inform its customers about the cyberattack that took place on Tuesday. While asking customers to "keep calm and carry on", the fast food chain said its "digital hiccup is just that a hiccup". "It seems our digital doorstep got a surprise makeover on the 27th of February, 2024, thanks to a special visit from our not-so-friendly neighborhood web wizards, Team Insane PK, straight out of Pakistan," Burger Singh said in its message to customers. The Pakistani hackers breached the burger franchise's security systems and also redesigned its website on February 27, creating a digital graffiti wall displaying the group's actions on the website. "Our website didn't just get a new look; it got a whole new attitude, albeit one we didn't sign up for," the company said. Instead of taking

BJP raises allegations of pro-Pakistan slogans in Karnataka Vidhana Soudha

Rajya Sabha member Syed Nasir Hussain has denied the allegations, clarifying that his supporters were chanting "Nazir saab zindabad" not "Pakistan zindabad"

Pakistan National Assembly to meet after President Alvi summons session

Pakistan's newly-elected Parliament will meet on Thursday for its maiden session as President Dr Arif Alvi finally summoned the Assembly after differing with the caretaker government over the issue of former prime minister Imran Khan's party-backed candidates being allotted the reserved seats. Early on Thursday, Alvi approved a move from the caretaker parliamentary affairs ministry to summon the newly-elected National Assembly's first session on February 29, according to a statement posted by the president's X account. "Subject to some reservations, President Dr Arif Alvi has summoned to convene the National Assembly on February 29 in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 54(1) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan," the statement said. It said that the president accorded his approval keeping in view "the mandate and implications of the timeline given in Article 91 (2) and subject to some reservations and expecting the resolution of the issue of the reserved

Pakistan's army still firmly in command despite national election rebuke

The military, which has ruled Pakistan directly or indirectly for most of its modern history, is set to make all important decisions on foreign policy and security for the country's new government

MHA bans both factions of Muslim Conference Jammu & Kashmir for 5 years

As per the notification, the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Sumji faction), chaired by Ghulam Nabi Sumji, is known for its anti-India and pro-Pakistan propaganda

Pakistan's new govt will prioritise 'fixing' economy: Nawaz Sharif

Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said the priority of the upcoming government led by his party will be to "fix" the ailing economy as all the problems plaguing the cash-strapped nation were linked to the economic woes. The government will try to fix the economy which would in turn fix everything, Sharif, the supreme leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) told the media after arriving at the Parliament House for the first time since the February 8 elections. Sharif, who surprisingly nominated his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif to be the prime minister of a coalition government, also said that he wishes every National Assembly, Senate and Prime Minister to complete their constitutional term. No prime minister in coup-prone Pakistan has completed his/her five-year term. Sharif became prime minister thrice but was removed on all three occasions in mid-term. Earlier, he was welcomed by prime minister candidate Shehbaz Sharif and other members of his