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Wednesday, 1 January, 2025 I 29 Jumada Al-Akhirah, 1446
Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 176 I 8 Pages I Lahore Edition
PM SHeHbaz lauNCHeS ‘uRaaN PaKISTaN’ To STeeR fIve-YeaR eCoNoMIC TRaNSfoRMaTIoN
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PLAN TARGETS EXPORT GROWTH, DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR NATIONAL PROGRESS
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AMBITIOUS TARGETS, INCLUDE 6% GDP GROWTH, 1M JOBS AND ATTRACTING $10B IN INVESTMENT ANNUALLY BY 2028
STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday unveiled the “Uraan Pakistan: Homegrown National Economic Plan 202429,” aiming to tackle Pakistan’s economic challenges through a targeted framework called the “Five Es”: Exports, E-Pakistan, Equity and Empowerment, Environment and Food Security, and Energy and Infrastructure. Addressing the launch ceremony in Islamabad, PM Shehbaz emphasized that macroeconomic stability had been achieved but highlighted the need for “sacrifice, unity, and hard work” to achieve sustained growth. He underlined export-led growth as Pakistan’s “ultimate savior,” stressing the importance of fostering competition, reducing inefficiencies, and encouraging investment. The plan sets ambitious targets, including achieving 6% GDP growth, creating one million jobs annually, and attracting $10 billion in annual private
investment by 2028. It also aims to increase exports to $60 billion and address key structural challenges in energy, food security, and digital transformation. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb highlighted recent economic progress, including a fiscal surplus after 24 years, inflation reduction from 38% to 5%, and improved investor confidence.
Petrol price goes up by 56 paisa, HSD Rs2.96 per litre on New Year ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Federal Government on Tuesday announced an increase of 56 paisa per litre in the price of petrol while the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) diesel jacked up by Rs2.96 per litre for the first fortnight of New Year starting January 1, 2025. According to a notification issued late on December 31, the price of petrol has been increased by 56 paisa per litre and the new price of petrol has been set at Rs252.66 per litre. Similarly, the price of high-speed diesel witnessed an increase of Rs2.96 per litre, with the new price HSD stands at Rs258.34 per litre. These changes come as part of regular adjustments in fuel prices, which are influenced by international market trends and local economic conditions. The government of Pakistan on December 15 announced new petrol and diesel prices. As per details, petrol prices remain stable at Rs252.10 per litre. High-speed diesel prices have decreased by Rs3.05 per litre, with the new price set at Rs255.38 per litre. In addition, the price of kerosene oil has decreased by Rs3.32 per litre, with the new price set at Rs161.66 per litre. Light diesel oil prices have also decreased by Rs2.78 per litre, with the new price set at Rs148.95 per litre. The Ministry of Finance has issued a notification regarding the new prices, which will come into effect at 12 am tonight.
Rana urges PTI to play role for political, economic stability ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Advisor to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Tuesday urged the Opposition benches to play role for political and economic stability in Pakistan. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), should resolve the political issues through dialogue, he said while talking to a private television channel. “We are hopeful of the talks being initiated on January 2, 2025, ” he said. In reply to a question about “Oran Pakistan” program, he said there is a need to have cooperation of the Opposition parties to gain economic growth targets in Pakistan. To another question about high inflation, he said the people had to face hard time due to weak policies of the last regime of PTI. He said PTI should shun the petty differences and sit together to improve life of the poor people. He said that incumbent government has reduced the inflation in short span of time. He said Pakistan Stock Exchange and other sectors are showing upward trend due to better policies of the present government.
He emphasized the plan’s implementation mechanism, which includes establishing a separate tax policy unit and promoting sustainable growth through private-sector engagement. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar called for burying “petty politics” to achieve economic progress. He underscored the importance of national ownership of the economic roadmap and
expressed optimism about Pakistan joining the G-20 club of nations. The event also saw Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar underline the need for political harmony and reforms to ensure equitable growth. The plan is set against the backdrop of Pakistan’s recent IMF bailout and seeks to ensure this is the “last such agreement.” The government also pledged to address inefficiencies in state-owned enterprises and implement privatization strategies to reduce losses. PM Shehbaz expressed hope that the collaborative efforts between institutions and the government would sustain the country’s economic recovery. He called for investments in digital and technology sectors, emphasizing artificial intelligence’s role in boosting productivity and competitiveness. With ambitious goals and a commitment to sustainable growth, the Uraan Pakistan initiative aims to transform Pakistan’s economy and position it as a regional economic powerhouse over the next five years.
Former GB CM sentenced to 34 years in jail in hate speech case GILGIT
STAFF REPORT
The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Gilgit on Tuesday handed down a 34-year jail term to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former Chief Minister GilgitBaltistan Khalid Khurshid for hurling threats at state institutions at a party rally in July. GB ATC Judge Rehmat Shah sentenced Khalid Khurshid to 34 years in prison and fined him Rs600,000 for threatening security institutions, including the chief secretary and chief election commissioner, during a party rally on July 26 at Ittehad Chowk, Gilgit. The Judge also ordered the GB inspector general of police to arrest Khurshid and ordered the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) director general to block his national identity card. The ATC pronounced his verdict in a case registered at the Gilgit City Police Station under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), the Anti-Ter-
rorism Act. According to the First Information Report, registered at city Police Station Gilgit, Khurshid hurled threats at Security Agencies and used indecent language against the Chief Election Commissioner during a public gathering at Ittehad Chawk on May 26, 2024. Earlier in April, a senior civil judge issued an arrest warrant against Khalid Khurshid Khan in a fake degree case. Senior Civil Judge Hidayat Ali issued a bailable arrest warrant
of the former chief minister of Gilgit Baltistan over his continuous absence. Khalid Khurshid was charged with getting a lawyer’s license from the Gilgit-Baltistan Bar Council by submitting a ‘fictitious’ University of London law degree and an affidavit to the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Islamabad to obtain an equivalency certificate. The Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court in July 2023 disqualified Khalid Khursheed Khan in a fake degree case as a three-member bench announced the verdict on a petition filed by a member of the GB Assembly Shahzad Agha. The petitioner had argued that Khursheed’s law degree was fake and he should be disqualified under Article 62 and 63. Khursheed claimed to have received a law degree from London but it could not be verified. Khalid Khursheed had been in office since December 2020 and considered a close aide of PTI chairman Imran Khan.
Cops among 11 injured as Karachi police move in to disperse sit-ins KARACHI
At least 11 people, including six cops, were injured on Tuesday when Karachi police attempted to disperse sitins being staged across the city against the Parachinar situation. MWM spokesperson Syed Ali Ahmer Zaidi alleged that the police resorted to tear gas shelling and baton-charge at “10 places — including Abbas Town, Power House and Kamran Chowrangi” — and got the roads cleared. He said that the sit-ins were going on at three locations – Numaish Chowrangi, Ancholi and Rizvia Society. He criticised what he called “state tyranny against peaceful protesters”. Violence also erupted on main National Highway in Malir where police and protesters clashed, resulting in injuries to several policemen and protesters. Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said that four injured people, including one in critical condition with a bullet wound to the head, were brought to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre from Malir. She also said three policemen from Malir with injuries caused by hard and blunt instruments were also brought. The police surgeon further said that three policemen were injured in clashes with the protesters at Numaish Chowrangi, two constables and the Pak Colony station house officer, and were also brought for treatment. Dr Summaiya said one person with a gunshot injury on his left arm was brought from Numaish Chowrangi to Civil Hospital Karachi. According to Malir Superintendent of Police (SP) Saeed Rind, the protesters blocked the highway at Malir-15 at night. He said when the police took action to get the highway vacated; the protestors who were armed allegedly resorted to “straight firing”, resulting in bullet injuries to two policemen. He said the police resorted to tear gas shelling and dispersed the protesters who fled towards streets. The Malir SP refuted charges of the protesters that the police resorted to firing on them, saying that only tear gas shelling was used. Meanwhile, the MWM spokesperson in a statement said that the “police resorted to straight firing on participants of the sit-in in Malir, resulting in bullet injuries to nine persons including two in critical condition.” The spokesperson said they would not be deterred by bullets and threats and a large number of people had again started gathering at Numaish Chowrangi while an emergent meeting of the MWM was underway to chalk out future course of action. MWM Information Secretary Asif Safvi condemned the alleged heavy firing and shelling by police and security forces on protesters at Numaish Chowrangi. He also condemned alleged violence on senior religious scholar Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi by paramilitary forces, “who failed to open the roads in Parachinar”. Safvi maintained that the protest “will continue in any case”. “The Sindh government has used force. We will fight state oppression,” he said. He added that dozens of protesters were injured by police brutality at Numaish Chowrangi and condemned the arrest of Allama Naqvi. “The government and some black sheep are conspiring to create communal riots in the city,” he said. “Banned sectarian groups are being given free rein on the streets as part of a conspiracy to suppress the demands of the public.” He called on the Sindh government to stop brutality against innocent civilians, adding that protesting is the right of every citizen. He also called on PPP Chairman Bilawal BhuttoZardari and President Asif Ali Zardari to take notice of the “state oppression” by the Sindh government.
Govt, PTI ‘flexing muscles’ for 2nd round of negotiations tomorrow ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has formally convened the in-camera seesion of the committees representing the government and the PTI on Thursday (tomorrow) at the parliament house. According to a notification issued by the NA Secretariat, the crucial meeting between the ruling alliance and Imran Khan-founded party will be held at parliament house on Thursday at 11am. According to the notification, Mr Sadiq “will chair a 2nd meeting (in-camera) on negotiations between Treasury and Opposition on Thursday, at 11:30am” at the Parliament House. Meanwhile, the PTI has decided to limit itself to two initial demands in the talks – the release of under trial political prisoners and the formation of a judicial commission to probe the events of May
STAFF REPORT
9, 2023 and Nov 26. Background discussions with party leaders revealed that it was annoyed by the “illogical and absurd statements” about the talks, being issued by government ministers, and wanted the ruling party to review its “nonsensical ap-
proach and create a favourable environment for talks”. The PTI will present its demands in writing before the government’s negotiation committee at the Jan 2 meeting as the first round of parleys ended in a conducive environment. PTI leader and former NA speaker
Asad Qaiser, however, said that their demands were clear. He demanded a commission to investigation May 9 and November 26 events and release of the PTI founder, who has been behind bars since August last year after he was sentenced in Toshakhana case-I — one of the dozens cases registered against the former premier since his ouster from power in April 2022. All members of the PTI’s negotiation committee would attend the next round of talks, he added.
PESHAWAR
Khan, and judicial investigation into May 9 and Nov 26 incidents”, former National Assembly Asad Qaiser stated while speaking to media outside the Peshawar High Court (PHC). The government and major opposition party PTI’s negotiation committees are scheduled to meet again on Jan 2, with National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq set to preside over the meet-
ing. In the previous meeting, the government had asked the PTI to present its demands to continue the political dialogue. “The 26th Constitutional Amendment has paralysed the judicial system,” Qaiser said while urging the lawyers to play their due role. He said PTI founder Imran Khan told him that he would hold talks when workers of his party would be treated in a better way.
PTI to put forward two ‘initial demands’ in meeting with govt’s team: Qaiser STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaiser on Tuesday revealed that two “initial demands” to be presented in the meeting with the government’s negotiation committee scheduled for Jan 2. “The PTI would demand release of all party prisoners, including Imran
Imran Khan terms ISPR statement on talks with TTP ‘incorrect’ ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has dismissed statements by the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), reiterating that negotiations with the Taliban were a strategy devised by former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa. “The ISPR’s position is incorrect as former COAS Gen Bajwa had crafted the strategy regarding the negotiation and deal with the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP)”, lawyer Faisal Chaudhry quoted former prime minister Imran Khan as saying while briefing the media outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on Tuesday. A six-member legal team had earlier met
the former prime minister. Advocate Chaudhry quoted Khan as saying, “Gen Bajwa engineered the whole process and was the staunch advocate of this idea.” He said that the PTI founder said that Afghanistan’s issues can only be resolved through dialogue, which remains a practical solution.” Khan also criticised simultaneous diplomatic efforts and aerial bombardments, calling for a consistent approach. He said, “Imran Khan’s stance is clear—cases against him and PTI leaders are politically motivated and lack substance. These trials are a means of political targeting, not justice.” He further noted that Khan reiterated his
call for a judicial commission to investigate the May 9 incidents and the November 26 protests. “Our leader seeks justice, not leniency, and has set a deadline of January 31 to assess the government’s seriousness in dialogue,” he added. He criticised trials in military courts, describing the sentences as controversial. “These trials lack transparency and justice. The constitution must be upheld, and human rights protected,” he said. The PTI team intends to participate in talks on January 2 and remains committed to addressing issues such as electoral mandates and constitutional amendments. “The nation suffers economically due to political unrest and mismanagement,” Chaudhry concluded.