Monday, 28 November, 2022 I 3 Jamadi Sani, 1444 I Rs 40.00 | Vol XIII No 149 I 44 Pages I Islamabad Edition
PM urges Pak-Turkiye joinT research, resources Pooling To face challenges g
SayS hIStorIc tIeS between two countrIeS ‘grounded fIrmly In common relIgIouS, cultural lInkS
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SayS IndIa muSt reverSe ItS actIonS of aug 5, for complete normalIzatIon of relatIonS
ISLAMABAD
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staff report
rIme minister Shehbaz Sharif said that in wake of the common challenges and emerging threats facing both countries, pakistan and turkiye should work together through collective research and pooling of resources. “we believe that pakistan and turkiye should work together and deepen their partnership through collective research and joint development and pooling of resources,” prime minister Shehbaz told turkish anadolu agency in an exclusive interview, published on Sunday, during his two-day visit to the country from november 25-26 to jointly inaugurate the third of four mIlgem corvette ships manufactured by turkiye for the pakistani navy. he said the “exemplary,” pak-turkiye relations were “grounded firmly in common religious, cultural, and linguistic links and transcend political changes on either side.” over the past seven and a half decades, the prime minister said, the two sides have always “stood by each other in the face of all changes.” “pakistan and turkiye support each other on all issues of core national interests — whether it is Jammu and kashmir or northern cyprus. I would like to take this opportunity to thank turkiye, particularly its leadership, for its principled support on Jammu and kashmir dispute,” he said. “confronted by common challenges and new and emerging threats, pakistan and turkiye have deepened their cooperation across various spheres, particularly in defense,” Shehbaz Sharif said, lauding the turkish defense industry which has “achieved spectacular success under the leadership of president erdogan, defying all odds and challenges in the past two decades.” “pakistan is turkiye’s largest defense customer,” the prime minister underlined, adding that their collaboration on the
construction of the mIlgem-class warships, not only has a “unique value” for the pakistani navy’s capability enhancements but also “prominently stands out as a defining moment to further cement the bonds of friendship between our two nations and our two navies.” to a question, the prime minister said pakistan’s economy “was facing multiple global and domestic challenges” and was “on the verge of financial collapse” when he assumed charge. “the economic policies of the previous government were not pro-growth and led the economy to multiple challenges,” he said. however, the prime minister said his government had adopted a “mix of policies to tackle the economic downturn by accepting the fact that “we have a very short time to step back from the edge of bankruptcy and financial collapse.” “no doubt, some of our policy options, like the withdrawal of untargeted subsidies, had added to the cost to the economy in the short term. but, most of our policies are more likely to offer benefits in the longer term,” he remarked.
“we are also aware of the fact that our current course of action is hurting the most vulnerable and marginalized in society but we are taking care of them by announcing targeted subsidies and other relief measures,” the prime minister said. he said the revival of the Imf programme and “active engagement with bilateral and multilateral partners” had eased the pressure. to tackle the economy, he noted that his government took measures to reduce the import bill, current account deficit, and pressure on the pakistani rupee. the prime minister said the massive floods that hit pakistan early this year “caused a great deal of suffering.” the recently announced packages by the government for farmers and businessmen will help stimulate economic activities, he added. coming to the issue of climate change, prime minister Shehbaz said, while pakistan contributed less than 1% of the global carbon footprint, it “is facing the brunt of natural calamities in the form of heat waves, glacial outbursts,
ISPR: Leaked data of army chief’s family wealth ‘lies and malice’ ISLAMABAD staff report
days after the finance minister said the federal board of revenue (fbr) successfully traced the identities of the people suspected of leaking the tax information of family members of gen. Qamar Javed bajwa, the military said an investigative report which, citing those records, estimated the combined declared wealth of the family of its outgoing chief at a staggering $56 million was “totally untrue and based on blatant lies and malice”. last week, an online investigative news portal, factfocus, ran the story about the accumulation of wealth and property by family members of gen. bajwa during his extended six-year term in office ending tuesday. the report alleged that gen. bajwa’s immediate and extended family members had exponentially expanded their domestic as well as foreign property and businesses since he took command of the pakistan army in 2016. however, instead of ques-
tioning or denying the validity of the information, the office of Ishaq dar issued a statement saying the finance minister had taken “serious notice” of the leak, calling it a violation of the tax law and a breach of official confidential data. Subsequently, on tuesday, dar said the top revenue authority had traced the identities of staff who apparently leaked the records to ahmad noorani,
a washington-based journalist who published the story. In a statement responding to the report, released no less than a week later, the Inter-Services public relations (ISpr) claimed the data was being exaggerated on the basis of assumptions. a “certain group” has “cleverly, and with ill intent,” linked the assets of the father and family of the general’s daughter-in-law with him and his family, the statement said. the media wing of the military was concerned that a “false impression” was being created that these assets were acquired by Sabir hameed, a lahore-based realtor and father of gen. bajwa’s daughter-in-law, during his time in office. “It is totally untrue and based on blatant lies and malice,” the statement said, adding the assets of the general and his family had been declared to the fbr. the army chief and his family regularly file their tax returns, the statement said. “like every citizen, the army chief and his family are answerable to the tax authorities for their assets,” it added.
droughts, torrential rains, and unprecedented monsoons.” “there is an urgent need for the industrialized countries to meet their climate finance commitments, with a balanced focus on adaptation and mitigation,” he said, welcoming a deal to establish a “loss and damage fund” to compensate developing countries most severely impacted by climate change. he also suggested that the international community explore the possibilities of “debt swaps for climate action, particularly adaptation.” about his government’s efforts to respond to the flood situation, the prime minister said the country “mounted coordinated rescue and relief operations mobilizing all possible resources and capacities.” a dedicated national flood response and coordination centre (nfrcc) has been set up to effectively coordinate rescue and relief operations, he noted. while discussing his government’s foreign policy, he said pakistan’s “longstanding and broad-based relationship” with the uS was “committed to deepen and widen.” “In recent months, engagement between both countries has been quite productive and substantial. our interactions at various levels have intensified, which manifests in that the relationship is strengthening.” recalling a recent interaction with uS president Joe biden in new york, he said there had been “several high-level visits including congressional delegations and by members of the (uS) administration.” “these interactions have yielded positive results and further solidified our ties,” he said, thanking washington for its $97 million of support for pakistani flood victims. the two countries, celebrating 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, are “charting out a promising course for
the decades ahead,” said Sharif. he called the uS an “important trading partner” and added that the two countries were “exploring more ways to strengthen bilateral trade and commercial ties.” “Some of the uS companies are doing quite well in pakistan. we encourage major uS companies to invest in pakistan’s lucrative market and enhance commercial ties, particularly in our growing It sector,” he said, encouraging more student exchanges between the two countries. commending the “strong pakistani diaspora” in the uS, Sharif said they were “acting as a bridge to deepen the ties between our two countries and the people.” pakistan is also cooperating closely with the uS “to promote peace and stability in afghanistan,” while also pursuing a foreign policy of “friendliness and goodwill towards all countries,” he said. “pakistan has traditionally maintained good relations with the united States and china. historically, it was pakistan that acted as a bridge in opening up the relationship between the united States and the people’s republic of china,” he noted. “while the pakistan-china relationship is very special, pakistan and the uS have also maintained a longstanding historic bilateral relationship, which is broad-based in nature and covers all issues of mutual interest. Shehbaz Sharif said pakistan “strongly believes that inter-state relations should be based on mutual respect and peaceful resolution of issues by upholding of principles of un charter and international law.” on relations with china, he said his recent meetings with the chinese leadership “injected new impetus in our joint efforts to ensure timely progress and implementation of major projects.”
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Not to wait for single minute if Imran asks to dissolve Punjab Assembly: Pervaiz Elahi LAHORE staff report
punjab chief minister chaudhry pervaiz elahi declared on Sunday that he won’t “wait for a minute” to dissolve the provincial assembly if ptI chairman Imran khan asks him to do so. “I owe the punjab government to Imran khan. we stand with those whom we support,” punjab chief minister ch pervaiz reaffirmed while responding to rumors and speculations, in a video statement on Sunday. It is important to mention here that the pml-Q is an ally of the ptI in the punjab. the chief minister of pakistan’s biggest province warned the Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government in the centre that in case ptI and its allies exit the country’s assemblies, then their “government, which expands over a mere 27kms, won’t last for the next 27 hours”. he clarified his political party’s stance on pakistan
tehreek-e-Insaf (ptI) chief Imran khan’s call for the dissolution of the punjab assembly. the cm said that the punjab government was the trust of Imran khan and pml-Q leadership would not leave its allies alone after making promises. he said that Shehbaz Sharif-led government would never run even a day after the dissolution of as-
semblies following the mpas’ mass resignations. the chief minister clarified that they would not wait for a single minute if Imran khan ordered to dissolve the assemblies. he added that Imran khan was given a new life by allah almighty and his political strategy entered the decisive phase.
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