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YOUM-E-TAKBEER DAY OF NATION’S REMARKABLE JOURNEY TOWARDS CREDIBLE DETERRENCE: PM Monday, 29 May, 2023 I 8 Zilqad, 1444
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SAYS PAKISTAN LAID DOWN RULES OF GAME FOR PEACE, STABILITY IN REGIONAL ON THAT DAY
Pakistan marks anniversary of nuclear bomb ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
The nation is fervently celebrating the 25th anniversary of the first nuclear weapons test which marked a significant milestone, granting Pakistan invincible defense capabilities and contributing to regional stability through power equilibrium. Pakistan detonated five nuclear devices underground in remote hills in Balochistan on May 28, 1998, and an additional test on May 30, two weeks after India conducted similar tests. The tests sparked widespread celebrations among the people proud that their nuclear scientists had matched the arch-rival neighbours. The day brought about a resur-
gence of national pride for the entire Pakistani nation and became a source of honour for the Muslim world. Now commemorated as Youm-i-Takbeer, May 28 is celebrated as a symbol of national pride and gratitude. These tests positioned Pakistan as the seventh nuclear power globally and the first Islamic state to possess a nuclear arsenal, ensuring maximum deterrence for peaceful purposes within its defense stockpile. The tests not only showcased the unwavering determination of the Pakistani nation to safeguard the country’s territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty, but also demonstrated its commitment to maintaining a strategic balance in South Asia.
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ARMED FORCES PAY RICH TRIBUTES TO BRILLIANT SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS ON YOUM-E-TAKBEER: ISPR
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ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
RIME Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said that Youm-e-Takbeer was not just a day but a story of the nation’s challenging and remarkable journey towards establishing credible minimum deterrence. Taking to his Twitter handle on Sunday, the prime minister said that on that day, Pakistan set a redline for its defence and laid down rules of the game for peace and stability in the region. “On the Silver Jubilee of Youm-e-Takbeer, I pay rich tributes to the political & military leadership, scientists, engineers and all those who remained associated with our nuclear programme,” he said in a tweet as the nation celebrates the 25th anniversary of Youm-e-Takbeer on Sunday. The prime minister further said that their hard work, commitment and determination made it possible for the people to guard their independence from any physical threat. “The day represents how the consensus between all elements of national power achieved what once looked like an uphill task,” he posted in a tweet. The prime minister said Shaheed Zulifkar Ali Bhutto was a visionary leader who initiated the nuclear programme, adding in a show of bold leadership, his leader Mian Nawaz Sharif firmly rejected the policy of stick and carrot and made sure that the country became nuclear. “All along, our armed forces remained a guardian & protector of the programme in the face of malign intentions of our enemies,” he said. Armed forces pay rich tribute to brilliant scientists, engineers on Youm-e-Takbeer The armed forces on Sunday paid
No talks after vandalism of military installation: Saad Rafique LAHORE
Staff RepoRt
PML-N Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique on Sunday made it clear that there is no way possible for talks with the PTI, especially after violent incidents on May 9 and vandalism of military installations. Talking to media persons after visiting Corps Commander House, known as Jinnah House on Sunday, Kh Saad Rafique urged former prime minister Imran Khan and the entire PTI leadership to accept their mistake and apologise to the whole nation over the May 9 riots. “They should do release a public apology,” the PML-N minister said, emphasising that what PTI did does not fall under the garb of politics. “Imran has formed a committee…. who will talk to them? No one”, Saad Rafique mocked, saying this is no situation to hold talks. The railway’s minister claimed that former prime minister Imran Khan had told his team to end the talks with the government, which
were held on the orders of the Supreme Court last months. He told the reporters to also question the politicians who represented the PTI in talks about the matter. “There is an agenda for talks and there is a situation created for talks to take place,” he said. “Their team was doing a reasonable talk and matters were decided but to no avail”. PML-N’s Khawaja Saad Rafique, while lambasting those involved in the vandalism of the Jinnah House in Lahore, said the “rioters” and their
approach was shameless. He alleged that the PTI leadership and ticket holders were involved in the arson despite knowing about the sanctity of the installation. “This fire did not erupt because of petrol or matchbox, but chemicals.” The railways minister also claimed that “Imran poisoned the minds of the youth and sowed the seeds of hatred in their minds for years”. Khawaja Saad Rafique visits Jinnah House in Lahore, terms May 9 vandalim ‘disheartening’ Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique has termed the protests of May 9, which erupted following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan, as a disheartening event. Talking to media persons outside the Jinnah House in Lahore, the PML-N leader lamented damages to valuable things “preserved” at Jinnah House including Quaid-eAzam’s room, his writing table, and handwritten notes.
Govt will rein in economic crisis ‘with or without IMF’: Ishaq Dar
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PROMISES RELIEF-ORIENTED AND BUSINESS-FRIENDLY BUDGET ISLAMABAD
had also confirmed that Pakistan
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday declared that Pakistan will overcome the economic crisis with or without the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “Pakistan will never default with or without the IMF”, Ishaq Dar reiterated the government’s resolve, claiming foreign powers are surprised that Pakistan does not default so far. While talking to a private news channel, Dar claimed that former prime minister Imran Khan had destroyed the national economy after coming into power. He added that Imran Khan’s government got a $100 billion market from the previous PML-N government but it was destroyed and Pakistan had nearly defaulted. Dar said that IMF asked Pakistan to arrange $6 billion a technical deal was signed to arrange $3 billion before and after the loan programme. He added that IMF MD
will not default. “We will try to avoid putting financial burden on common people in the next budget. We will bring discipline to the economy and resolve the economic issues. Pakistan has reserves worth $1,000 billion, hence, it should not be compared with Sri Lanka.” “We have to control our internal expenditures. The IMF programme will conclude on June 30,” said Dar. ‘RELIEF FOR MARGINALIZE CLASS’ The Federal Minister for Fi-
Staff RepoRt
Rs 15.00 | Vol XIII No 329 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
nance said the budget preparation was in the final stage to present a relief-oriented and business-friendly budget in order to avoid further burdening the poor. He said some internal and external elements blatantly attempted to destabilize the country’s economy. In past, the government has allowed the pre-flow of the currency in the market and brought its value down artificially, Dar said. The devaluation of the currency has heightened inflation and the government is aware of the people’s suffering and assured that every promise made with the public would be met, he added. The government has working on the formation of a comprehensive strategy to bring the dollar price down to its actual level which was less than 250 rupees. He said the value of the US dollar will be 240 to 250 rupees in the coming days which would be its real value.
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rich tribute to the brilliant minds who conceived and achieved credible minimum nuclear deterrence accomplishment under daunting challenges. According to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), “the armed forces salute the scientists and engineers who turned the impossible into a reality. Long Live Pakistan.” It said the complete Pakistani nation celebrated the Silver Jubilee of Youm-e-Takbeer and commemorated the remarkable achievement of establishing Credible Minimum Deterrence. “This achievement has reshaped the power dynamics in our region,” it added. Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Sunday said celebration ceremony of Youm-e-Takbeer silver jubilee would be held at Liberty Chowk, Lahore later in the evening. “Under the leadership of Senior Vice President and Chief Organizer of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the people will celebrate this great and historic day when the country’s defense was made invincible,” the minister said in a tweet. Sanaullah for honouring those who made Pakistan’s defence impregnable Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan Sunday said that May 28 served as a testament to the unwavering determination of the people of Pakistan to make defence of the country an insurmountable challenge. In a tweet on the occasion of Youme-Takbir, the minister said as the nation celebrates the silver jubilee of the day of nuclear tests carried out by Pakistan in 1998, “Let us all honor and acknowledge the pivotal contributions of individuals who played a crucial role in achieving this historic milestone and made Pakistan’s defense impregnable.”
Bilawal greets nation on silver jubilee of country’s nuclear tests KARACHI
Staff RepoRt
Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has extended greetings to the nation on the silver jubilee of the country’s nuclear tests and saluted all the people, including scientists, who played their role in making Pakistan the first nuclear nation in the Islamic world. According to the statement issued by media cell Bilawal House, Chairman PPP said that the nuclear programme of the country is indeed a great gift of the Qauid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to the nation. He said that the first elected Prime Minister of the country, Shaheed Bhutto, had said that if we have to eat grass, we will do so, but we will make Pakistan a nuclear power at any cost. “Making Pakistan a nuclear power was the mission of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto,” he added. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto shielded and advanced the country’s nuclear programme as Prime Minister. He pointed out that in 1998, when India carried out nuclear tests, then Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto stood firm as the leader of the opposition and demanded that the government should also immediately carry out nuclear tests, adding that even though Shaheed Bibi was in the opposition, she fully supported the Mian Nawaz Sharif government on this issue. The Chairman PPP said that his party is strictly following the footsteps of its martyred leaders, founder chairman Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and chairperson Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, regarding the nuclear programme of the country. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Pakistan strictly adheres to the policy of minimum credible nuclear deterrence, and at the same time Pakistan’s nuclear program is for peace and stability in the region.