Tag: Shehbaz

  • All hail the economic expert; PM drops British economist for Ishaq Dar

    All hail the economic expert; PM drops British economist for Ishaq Dar

    In a major plot twist, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, “unimpressed” with British economist Stefan Dercon’s work on a new economic agenda, has delegated the responsibility of developing the new agenda to PML-N’s all-weather economic tsar, Ishaq Dar.

    Previously, the PM sought the British economist’s expertise overseeing the government’s new economic agenda for the next five years.

    It was reported that the PM would announce the agenda on August 14, Pakistan’s Independence Day; however, this wasn’t the case.

    According to a notification, the premier has constituted a seven-member ministerial committee, chaired by Dar, to review the draft of the Dercon Plan.

    Interestingly, Shehbaz Sharif came under intense criticism from experts for his decision to hire a foreign economist.

    Express Tribune reported that the Deron plan essentially reiterated ideas already known to the public and experts.

    “There is nothing new or extraordinary in Stefan Dercon’s plan,” a senior cabinet member remarked.

    Ishaq Dar is currently heading nearly two dozen committees, mainly dealing with economic issues and managing relations with political allies.

  • IMF raises questions over PM Shehbaz giving huge bonuses to staff

    IMF raises questions over PM Shehbaz giving huge bonuses to staff

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reportedly raised questions on Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s decision to grant huge financial awards to the officers of his office, as reported by Express Tribune.

    The supplementary grants amounted to Rs. 24 billion, which the PM approved, amidst a severe economic crisis.

    The global lending body IMF took up the issue, asking about the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet decisions to approve awards for the PM’s office staff.

    The Express Tribune reported that the IMF questioned the source of funding for these awards.

    IMF’s Resident Representative Esther Perez did not respond to a request for a comment on the matter even after two weeks, according to the news outlet.

    However, despite IMF questioning, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb have not reversed this decision.

  • ’Four salary bonus’, PM Shehbaz is reportedly rewarding his staff

    ’Four salary bonus’, PM Shehbaz is reportedly rewarding his staff

    A few days before leaving for Washington to ask the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a new bailout package to avoid a default, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved a proposal to give up to four salaries in bonuses to his staff. He also asked his finance minister to concur with it.

    The PM is being faced with criticism that the policy to hand out such big awards to bureaucrats amidst such deeply serious economic conditions is against an austerity drive.

    Also, analysts are asking whether this move would bode well for the new IMF bailout package as the IMF discourages bloated government expenditures.

    The rewards were approved for staff officers because of ‘their extraordinary efforts in the completion of tasks’, according to the Express Tribune.

    More importantly, the cost for these bonuses will be paid to these government servants by taking loans from banks at a 23 per cent interest rate.

  • Rana Sanaullah says Imran Khan sentences won’t sustain

    Rana Sanaullah says Imran Khan sentences won’t sustain

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah has said that the convictions against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan before the elections damaged the ruling party PML-N.

    He stated that either of the sentences awarded to Khan would not “sustain” before an honest judge.

    “The cases in which the PTI founder was sentenced significantly damaged us [PML-N] in the elections due to the victim card used by the PTI. The manner in which the case proceedings were held and the sentences were awarded, they would not sustain before a judge who upholds principles of justice,” Sanaullah said while speaking to Kamran Shahid on Dunya News.

    Sanaullah even said that either the judge would remand back the case or could even exonerate Mr Khan and further said that his party would have no objection if he got a bail.

    Former interior minister Sanaullah was also of the opinion that PTI took advantage of its victim card and also pushed the country into a crisis – which PML-N government now has to look after.

  • Civil-military leaders decide on action against corruption, smuggling, power theft

    Civil-military leaders decide on action against corruption, smuggling, power theft

    The civil-military leadership of the country has chosen to take tough measures against anyone engaged in illegal activities like corruption, smuggling, power theft, and criminal gangs.

    The decisions were taken in a high-level meeting — with an agenda of “measures against spectrum of illegal activities and criminal mafias” — chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday attended by civil-military leadership in which measures against unlawful activities were discussed.

    General Syed Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), along with federal cabinet members, chief ministers, and other high-ranking government officials, participated in the important meeting.

    The authorities thoroughly explained the actions taken against criminal mafias, smuggling, hoarding, money laundering, power theft, and repatriation of illegal foreigners to the participants.

  • Election 2024 Wrap-Up 

    Election 2024 Wrap-Up 

    No mobile signals on election day:

    The general election of 2024 took place on February 8, and there were no mobile signals on election day across the country. Caretaker prime minister Anwar Kakar said, “I don’t know what difficulties citizens are facing due to mobile suspension.”

    Polling started late:

    According to a report in The Express TRIBUNE, polling at most women polling stations started late on February 8 due to the late supply of election material in different areas of the country. 

    Blasts on election day:

    Two blasts happened on Election Day in Lajja town and the Kharan area of Balochistan. At least three people were killed in two blasts on February 8.

    Hot Seats:

    NA-122 Lahore was a hot seat as Khawja Saad Rafique of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and PTI-backed candidate Sardar Latif Khosa were in competition. However, Sardar Latif Khosa won this seat.

    NA-128 was also a hot seat as PTI-backed candidate Salman Akram Raja and Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party’s (IPP) Aun Chaudhary were competing on it. However, Aun Chaudhary won this seat.

    NA-130 was also an important seat, as former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was in competition with PTI-supported Yasmeen Rashid. However, Nawaz Sharif won this seat.

    Long delay in election results:

    Election results took a long long time to be tabulated and released.

    ECP decides to announce results:

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decided to announce results, beginning with three constituencies at 2am on February 9.

    Allegations of rigging:

    Multiple politicians claimed that the elections were rigged in different constituencies, and some politicians challenged their defeat in courts. 

    PTI Independents take the lead:

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-backed candidates took the lead and then maintained it.

    Nawaz’s victory speech:

    Former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif cancelled his victory speech on Thursday night due to a delay in results. The next day, February 9, Nawaz Sharif said in his speech that all politicians and political parties should work together.

    Shehbaz meetings:

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif met Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Asif Zardari, on Friday, and a delegation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Saturday to discuss the possibility of joining hands in a coalition government.

    Final Tally:

    According to results so far, PTI-backed candidates are 93, PML-N has 73 and PPP won 53 National Assembly seats.

  • Govt employees get flat 50% increase in travel allowance

    The current government has announced a 50% increase in the daily travel and mileage allowances for all on-duty government employees. A notification to the same was issued by the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday.

    According to the notification, different calculations will be used for different grades of employees. There is an increase of Rs 7,200 per day for employees in Grade 22 and Rs 6,000 for Grade 21 employees. On the other hand, the employees in Grades 12 to 16 can get an increase of Rs 1320 and Rs 1200 per day for the employees in Grades 5 to 11.

    Additionally, the cost of transportation has increased by 50% to Rs7.5 per kilometer for vehicles and Rs3.75 per kilometre for motorcycles. For personal vehicles or taxis, the per-kilometre mileage allowance has increased by 50% to Rs15, Rs6 for motorcycles, Rs3 for bicycles, and Rs3.75 for public transport.

    The aforementioned daily allowance prices are applicable to certain stations for special rates as announced, including Hyderabad, Karachi, Sukkur, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Quetta, Sargodha, Sialkot, Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Pesha­war, Gwadar, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Muzaffarabad and Mirpur in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

    Government employees in grades 1–19 can stay in hotels (not five-star ones), motels, public sector corporations, rest houses, and guest houses.

  • ‘I am giving laptops, not Kalashnikovs to youth’: PM addresses distribution ceremony

    ‘I am giving laptops, not Kalashnikovs to youth’: PM addresses distribution ceremony

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif relaunched the programme for distribution of laptops among outstanding students on Friday.

    During his address at the distribution ceremony amongst the students of various universities in Islamabad , the Prime Minister reminisced about his tenure as the Chief Minister of Punjab and highlighted his efforts for the youth of the province. Addressing the youth directly, the Prime Minister said that the future of the country relies on them.

    While talking about the laptop scheme, the PM said, “I am giving laptops, not Kalashnikovs to youth”.

    He further added that while some may view these laptops as machines, for him, they represent a mission.

    Referring to the steps being taken for uplift, he said five billion rupees have been allocated in the budget for provision of agriculture loans to the youth. He said five billion rupees have also been earmarked to provide vocational training to them.

  • Rs16 billion money laundering case: PM Shehbaz appears before court, terms case as ‘fake’

    Rs16 billion money laundering case: PM Shehbaz appears before court, terms case as ‘fake’

    A special court in Lahore adjourned the hearing till October 8 in a Rs16 billion money laundering case filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and his son, Hamza Shehbaz.

    The court also directed the lawyer to submit additional details on the acquittal plea by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders.

    In the hearing which took place on Friday (today), PM’s son Hamza Shehbaz did not appear before the court as he had sought exemption on medical grounds. However, PM Shehbaz appeared before the court but later sought exemption as he had “important” matters to attend to.

    PM’s lawyer Amjad Pervaiz told the court that the first information report (FIR) registered against his clients mentioned they were involved in money laundering worth Rs25 billion from 2008-2018 through fake companies. However, he said, “During this 10-year span, PM Shehbaz was neither the director nor a shareholder of those companies.”

    PM Shehbaz also spoke before the court, stating that the money laundering case against him is “fake”.

    He claimed that when he was Chief Minister (CM) for 20 years he had made decisions that “hurt” his family’s sugar business. “I was requested to provide subsidy to sugar mills, but I refused. I refused as the amount (that would be used for subsidy) belonged to the poor people in Punjab,” he declared to the court.

    Later, he sought an exemption from the court which was granted to him. After Shehbaz left, the court went on a break.

    Once the hearing resumed, the lawyer presented his arguments again. Then, the court adjourned the hearing till October 8 and asked him to continue deliberations at the next hearing.

    In 2021, the FIA submitted a challan against Shehbaz and Hamza to the special court for their alleged involvement in laundering Rs16 billion in a sugar scam.

    The report added that the amount was kept in “hidden accounts” and “given to Shehbaz in a personal capacity”.

    At the time, FIA had said that the amount of Rs16 billion has nothing to do with the sugar business of Shehbaz’s family. The money allegedly received from the accounts of low-wage employees was transferred outside Pakistan, ultimately destined for the beneficial use of his family members.

  • PM Shehbaz Sharif to host dinner for PML-N and coalition party MNAs

    PM Shehbaz Sharif to host dinner for PML-N and coalition party MNAs

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has invited the MNAs of coalition parties to dinner at Prime Minister’s Office tonight (June 27).

    Members of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and coalition parties will attend the dinner, where the current political situation and matters related to the budget for fiscal year 2022-23 will be discussed.

    Earlier this month, former President Asif Ali Zardari hosted a dinner for leaders and members of the coalition government. During the dinner, Zardari was also lauded by the coalition leaders and members for his efforts to unite the parties together. PM Shehbaz who was also in attendance received advice from members and leaders present at the dinner.