WILL NEVER TURN BACK ON PEOPLE OF SOUTH PUNJAB: PM In partnership with
Sunday, 23 February, 2025 I 24 Shaban ul Moazzam, 1446
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 229 I 8 Pages I Lahore Edition
g SAYS HIS LEADER NAWAZ g REITERATES SEEKING FOREIGN PM SHEHBAZ ANNOUNCES CONSTRUCTION OF CANCER SHARIF DECIDED TO LOANS IS NO SOLUTION TO HOSPITAL IN DG KHAN, SACRIFICE POLITICS FOR ECONOMIC ISSUES AND UNIVERSITY IN RAJANPUR SAKE OF COUNTRY COUNTRY’S FUTURE
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life I cannot repay that favour,” he added. PM Shehbaz said the federal government was committed to uniform progress and prosperity of all areas with uplift of back-
ward areas like South Punjab by spreading a vast network of development projects. He told the huge crowd that when they came to power, the inflation had
reached over 40 percent, but his leader Nawaz Sharif decided to sacrifice politics for the sake of the country. With hard work and pro-development policies of the incumbent government, the inflation was capped below 2.4 percent while the interest rate had been reduced to 12 percent benefitting the investors, business people and farmers, he added. Expressing his views in local Saraiki dialect, the prime minister said Nawaz Sharif and he had a strong relation with this region. During the year 2010, when the floodwater and destruction was witnessed everywhere in these areas, he as a servant of the area, worked day and night to alleviate sufferings of the masses. “I have come to convey that Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz are working day and night for the uplift of entire province, particularly for the South Punjab,” he added.
ISLAMABAD
March 2024. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and other key members of the cabinet, reflecting Pakistan’s strong commitment to deepening its engagement with Azerbaijan. During the visit, the two sides will engage in wide-ranging discussions on areas of mutual interest in order to further strengthen bilateral cooperation
particularly in energy, trade, defence, education and climate sectors. Several MoUs and agreements in multiple areas of cooperation are expected to be signed between the two sides during the visit. Pakistan and Azerbaijan share a deep-rooted brotherly relationship built on mutual trust, understanding and a longstanding mutually beneficial cooperation.
DG KHAN/LAHORE STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday declared that he will never turn away from the people of South Punjab as he has a heart-to-heart connection with them, announcing the construction of a cancer hospital in Dera Ghazi Khan and a university in Rajanpur. Addressing a massive PML-N rally in Dera Ghani Khan on Saturday, PM Shehbaz Sharif said that an era of progress and prosperity had dawned upon the area, promising job opportunities for the youth. “Nawaz Sharif cancer hospital is being constructed in Lahore and another cancer hospital will be built in DG Khan,” he added. “I remember very well that this was not a favour done to you but I just want to recall what we did, we built Daanish schools, free medicine, laptops and a conditional cash transfer programme for the whole region’s children,” he said. He continued, “Whether that was for the rozgar scheme or girl’s education programme, me and Nawaz Sharif have always kept quota higher for south Punjab compared to the rest of Punjab. “This was your right and to complete it we will also work towards it and you should as well,” he said. “The people of south Punjab, I haven’t given anything to you but given your love for Nawaz Sharif, me and the party I promise by God that even if I work throughout my
PM to pay two-day state visit to Azerbaijan STAFF REPORT
At the invitation of President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will pay a two-day state visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan from 24-25 February 2025. This marks Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s second visit to Azerbaijan since assuming office in
Conveyed serious concerns to CJP about state of judiciary: Barrister Gohar ISLAMABAD/ SARGODHA STAFF REPORT
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Saturday that Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Yahya Afridi had advised the party to remain part of the political system and not to boycott it. Speaking to reporters at district courts in Islamabad, he said that the PTI had a long charge sheet against the government. “We are not pleased with the country’s judiciary. And we conveyed our concerns to the CJP in our meeting with him yesterday,” he said, adding, “Treating the party in such a manner is not a good omen for democracy in the country.” Barrister Gohar said that no matter to whom former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan’s letters were addressed, he, in his correspondence, had raised some serious issues so that there could be no further divide between the Pakistan Army and the masses. “PTI’s house is in order, and there is no truth in reports of the formation of a forward bloc,” the PTI chairman said categorically, adding, “Sher Afzal Marwat’s expulsion from the PTI was the party’s internal matter. Whosoever violates the discipline, has to face action.” Barrister Gohar again said that Imran Khan would decide about the future of those PTI leaders who had left the party in the wake of the May 9 violence. “Even Akbar S. Babar calls himself a PTI leader. This is the state of mind of an individual. But the party’s stance on the issue is clear.” He said that the PTI had entered into a dialogue with the government with sincerity. “We wanted a solution to the stalemate between the party and the government could be found out. But the latter was not serious in talks,” he added. The PTI chairman said today the party’s delegation had gone to Karachi to hold meetings with other opposition parties so that a grand alliance could be formed against the government. “Our movement is for the supremacy of the constitution. We want to make sure that no party is stolen of the people’s mandate in the future.” PTI apprises CJP Afridi of ills plaguing country: Omar Ayub Meanwhile, PTI leader Omar Ayub said on Saturday the objective of meeting Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi was to apprise him of the country’s current situation. Speaking to media outside the anti-terrorism court in Sargodha, he claimed that the party had informed the CJP about the issues plaguing the country.