Latest news with #NawazSharif
Business Recorder
15 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Fulfilling IMF conditions was no easy task, says CM Maryam
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz stated that the Punjab government's decision not to impose a single new tax in the provincial budget is nothing short of a miracle. She emphasized that instead of introducing new taxes, the government expanded the tax net. She also announced that Punjab's domestic debt, which had persisted for the last 30 years, had been reduced to zero. Addressing the Punjab Assembly, CM Maryam Nawaz said fulfilling the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) conditions while meeting the province's constitutional responsibilities was no easy task. She remarked that running over 150 development projects and allocating Punjab's resources for public welfare made achieving the IMF's stringent surplus target extremely challenging—yet her administration succeeded. Maryam Nawaz highlighted that unlike previous governments, her administration did not merely announce projects but also implemented Punjab's largest-ever annual cash-backed development program. She revealed that last year's Annual Development Program (ADP) was worth Rs. 840 billion, but due to successful project execution and public demand, it was increased to over Rs. 1 trillion. Out of this, Rs. 1.013 trillion had already been spent on public welfare, marking the highest allocation in Punjab's development history. She noted that Punjab's fund utilization, previously at Rs. 585 billion, had now reached Rs. 1,100 billion. The Chief Minister also expressed gratitude to the Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs), acknowledging that their support was instrumental in these achievements. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz added that those who once called for the political ouster of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had now been sidelined themselves—not by others, but by their own poor performance. 'Those who chanted 'minus Nawaz' are now themselves 'minus.' Even Aleema Khan has acknowledged this,' she said, referring to recent remarks by Khan's sister. Taking a firm stance against her opponents, the CM stated that false promises to South Punjab had long been a political tactic to form and dismantle governments. 'Unlike previous governments, we have moved beyond slogans. We are delivering on our promises,' she declared, announcing the launch of the province's largest clean drinking water project, starting in South Punjab. Her remarks were met with protests and noise from the opposition benches. Responding calmly, she said, 'Let them protest. I respect their democratic right.' Maryam also presented what she termed a 'historic' and 'tax-free' provincial budget of Rs. 5,335 billion, praising Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman and Finance Secretary Mujahid Sherdil for crafting a budget aligned with Nawaz Sharif's economic vision. Referencing military and diplomatic achievements, she congratulated the nation on 'the victory over India' and commended the armed forces and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for their leadership. She also condemned Israel's recent strikes on Iran, reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to peace and solidarity with the Iranian people. Maryam Nawaz underscored her administration's equitable development efforts, stating, 'Every district—whether Bhakkar, Layyah, Rajanpur, D.G. Khan, or Rahim Yar Khan—has the same share in development as Lahore.' She clarified that her competition was not with political rivals but with her own family's legacy. 'My benchmark is Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif—I aim to surpass their record of public service.' The Chief Minister also acknowledged the Mines and Minerals Department's contributions, citing Rs. 30 billion in savings, and noted that public spending had risen by only 3%, including pay and pension increases. Opposition members in the Punjab Assembly may be barred from entering the premises following their misconduct during Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's speech. They created chaos, hurled abusive slogans, and tore copies of the agenda, throwing them toward the Chief Minister and Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan. During her address, opposition members attempted to approach the Speaker's chair, shouting slogans and disrupting proceedings. Government members intervened to restrain them. Sources indicate the opposition could face entry restrictions due to their actions, including storming the Speaker's podium, using inappropriate language, and throwing documents. It may be recalled that Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan had issued a ruling the previous day outlining a code of conduct for assembly sessions. The ruling prohibits reading books/newspapers or bringing them into the house. It also prohibits passing between a speaking member and the chair. Additionally, eating, drinking, chewing, or smoking inside the assembly is not allowed. Damaging furniture or electronic equipment is strictly prohibited, and carrying sticks or rods without the Speaker's permission is forbidden. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
India Today
7 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Not an ideal democratic government: Khawaja Asif praises Pak's hybrid model
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and a close aide of ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) president and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has said the country is being governed under a 'hybrid model' in which the military enjoys the major power is the second time this week that Asif, a prominent member of the incumbent Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif cabinet, admitted to the hybrid model, criticised as not mixed but a 'fixed government to serve subsidiary interests' by defence minister's candid words during an interview with Arab News aired on Friday evening are being considered as an admission that Sharifs' Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has the blessings of the powerful military establishment in Pakistan. Asif described the civil-military hybrid system as co-ownership of the power structure as he said: 'This is a hybrid model. It's not an ideal democratic government. So, this hybrid arrangement, I think it is doing wonders. This system is a practical necessity until Pakistan is out of the woods as far as economic and governance problems are concerned.'He added if this sort of hybrid model was adopted way back in the 90s (when Nawaz Sharif was prime minister, twice), things would have been much, much better because the confrontation between military establishment and the political government would retard the progress of defence minister claimed that 'the only realistic option' for the PML-N and the Sharifs is 'to compromise with the military.'Earlier, a day after Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir met US President Donald Trump at the White House, Asif on Thursday said in a post on X described the meeting as 'the most important turning point in the 78-year history of relations,' and added that the development is the success of the 'current hybrid model of governance', involving the elected government and the arch rival and former prime minister Imran Khan has maintained since last year that the February 8 general elections witnessed the 'Mother of All Rigging' that deprived his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), from forming the government. Khan also called the PML-N and its ruling partner, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as 'mandate thieves.'After Asif's open admission, the critics claimed that it has further buried the PML-N's earlier slogan of 'vote ko izzat do (give respect to the ballot),' setting a future course of politics for the Sharifs that they would continue their politics as subservient to the powerful military.'This (Trump-Munir) meeting has lifted the thin, see-through veneer of 'elected'. What the world has known for quite a while is now in the open... where is the centre of power in Pakistan and who is in control of real state powers? The political allies (military) in power have presented themselves as the 'government' Asif and others now have to seek some legitimacy to praise the merits of the hybrid model, which actually doesn't mean a mixed but a fixed government to serve subsidiary interests,' said senior analyst Dr Rasul Bakhsh said the current setup is, in fact, the third 'hybrid regime' since the ouster of Imran Khan in 2022.'Today the difference is that while Gen Ziaul Haq and Gen Pervez Musharraf created political fronts by cannibalising major parties, this time around the two major parties -- PMLN and PPP -- have willingly served as political facade,' he said referring to the past two army generals who later became Rais said by handing victory to the PML-N and PPP in the previous elections, the military establishment has 'reduced these parties to the status of an appendage in the hybrid order.'He said the political capital of the PML-N and PPP is buried alongside their anti-establishment narrative. 'Now, the priority of the Sharifs and Zardaris as well as the military establishment is to neutralise the third force — Imran Khan's PTI --- which is perceived as a danger for all of them,' he journalist Matiullah Jan said on X, 'What a fall from grace for a politician. This defence minister takes oath to defend the constitution which makes no mention of the so-called hybrid form of government.''The fact is that this system is not even a hybrid system but a pure and simple dictatorship with political pygmies at the heels of affairs,' he InMust Watch
Business Recorder
19-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Nawaz Sharif IT City project: CM reviews progress
LAHORE: World's leading international IT companies have shown interest in investing in Nawaz Sharif IT City project. This was stated in a special meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif here today, to review the progress on the Nawaz Sharif IT City project. The Chief Minister emphasized the need for faster, more effective, and essential steps to ensure the timely establishment and operationalization of the Nawaz Sharif IT City. During the meeting Central Business District CEO Imran Amin said that, 23 major IT companies are ready to set up operations within the Silicon Block of the IT City. The Nawaz Sharif IT City became the first institution in Punjab being approved by the Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) which gave a formal approval for the establishment of NSIT Silicon Block. It was further apprised in the meeting, world's renowned international IT groups have expressed their keen interest in the Nawaz Sharif IT City project. As many as 23 well known IT companies are willing to establish their institutions in the Nawaz Sharif IT City Silicon Block. Plots have also been acquired for the establishment of institutions or offices in this regard. It was further informed that world's renowned Imperial College of London will establish a medical college and hospital in collaboration with Novecare. NetCol will establish Pakistan's first comprehensive IT university in the Nawaz Sharif IT City. Roots Group will enter into a joint venture with the British University of Warwick. Similarly, renowned companies namely DataFort and Mari-Tech will also jointly build Tier 3 and Tier 4 data centres. Data Rocks has expressed their interest in establishing Punjab's first FTA-approved lab. CEO CBD Imran Amin gave a detailed briefing on the progress being made on the projects. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif stressed the need for taking more effective, swift and necessary steps for the establishment of Nawaz Sharif IT City project. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
19-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
PARTLY FACETIOUS: The trend in this country is not to invest in Pakistan but outside
'Trump dished the French President.' 'Dished? Like what? As in barbecue, curry?' 'Or pizza – Nawaz Sharif does like pizza doesn't he?' 'I am not sure it's the pizza that he likes, I reckon he likes the location - Harrods in London.' 'Location should be more important to Trump – he is a real estate tycoon though recently he has been involved in all sorts of business – cryptocurrency has reaped billions for his family, billions mind you not millions like…like…' 'Foreign direct investment inflows?' 'Shut up.' 'Hear me out – the billions Trump family has raked in due to his easing oversight of the cryptocurrency industry yet there are serious ethical and legal questions…' 'I would advise you to shut up and don't try to put up because there is nothing that you can put up.' 'Well my argument…' 'Shut the hell up. Moving forward the Trump family is also selling some items like gold mobile phones which incidentally are a steal at less than 500 dollars…' 'Why can't our prime and chief ministers engage in business ventures, you know invest their own money in the private sector, provide jobs to people and…and wait…generate growth…' 'Two things first of all take away chief ministers from this plan because other than the Punjab chief minister who belongs to the ruling family the others are second to third tier leaders.' 'OK but…' 'Wait and second the trend in this country is not to invest in Pakistan but outside – and that too mostly in real estate.' 'But…' 'And look at the glass as fully full, because the FDI that is coming into the country is not facing any ethical and legal issues…' 'That is because thankfully all are on the same page and that's the way the cookie must crumble. Poor Trump is facing pressure from everyone – the Israelis, the Arabs who have pledged billions of dollars of investment in the US, his own MAGA base and last but not least his own cabinet…' 'I propose Trump changes the constitution to get a third term, and we have lawyers with the experience and…' 'Oh shut up.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Pakistan stands with Iran against Israeli atrocities: Nawaz
Chairing an important meeting of PML-N senators in Murree, Nawaz Sharif instructed the senators to actively highlight public issues in the Senate. SCREENGRAB PML-N President and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has condemned Israel's ongoing actions against Iran, deploring them acts of "oppression and excess" and reaffirmed Pakistan's solidarity with the Iranian people. In a brief interaction with journalists outside the Avenfield residence in London, Nawaz Sharif said Israel was currently committing "oppression and injustice". "We were with Iran and we will continue to stand with Iran." The former premier's statement came amid escalating regional tensions following Israeli strikes inside Iranian territory, drawing widespread condemnation from across the Muslim world. Pakistan, in official statements, has firmly supported Iran's right to self-defense and denounced Israel's military aggression, calling it a violation of international law. Commenting on Pakistan's defense posture, Nawaz Sharif said that being a nuclear power was a blessing for the country, but added that the intent behind acquiring nuclear capability was to promote peace, not war. "Pakistan being a nuclear country is a matter of good fortune," he said. "We became a nuclear power not to wage war, but to establish peace." He called for global efforts toward stability and coexistence. "There should be peace in the world," the former premier asserted. "Israel has wronged Iran. What is happening is oppression. Just attacking someone like that and burning them down this is not acceptable. In what kind of society does this happen?" He said that Pakistan remained aligned with Iran against Israeli atrocities. "Pakistan stood with Iran against Israeli atrocities and will continue to stand by it," he added. The comments by the three-time prime minister come as Pakistan has condemned the Israeli actions, rejecting Tel Aviv's military action that has entered its fifth day, while advocating restraint, dialogue and adherence to international norms.
