SARGODHA: Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan will address a public gathering in Sargodha, Punjab, today (Wednesday), ARY News reported.
According to details, the former premier will address a public gathering in the Sports Stadium in Sargodha. Preparations for the public meeting have been finalised and a large stage has been set up for Imran Khan and other party leaders.
Boards and banners have been installed in Sargodha to welcome Imran Khan upon his arrival in Sargodha. Later in the day, the former premier will also address the lawyers of the District Bar at the Circuit House.
Read more: Won’t bow down to any pressure: Imran Khan
The police and the district administration has been put on high alert, while a traffic plan has been issued to ensure smooth flow of the traffic.
Moreover, Imran Khan will visit Sindh province on September 05 as the province remains most affected by the recent floods that devastated the entire country.
Head of PTI Sindh Ali Zaidi, announcing the visit, said that Khan would arrive in Sukkur on September 05.
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has constituted a 24-member Disaster Management Ministerial Committee to address issues related to natural calamities, ARY News reported on Tuesday.
According to details, the Punjab chief minister has constituted a 24-member ministerial committee under the chairmanship of provincial minister Raja Basharat. Chief Secretary Punjab will be the vice-chairman of the committee.
The ministerial committee also includes Mohsin Khan Leghari, Ali Afzal Sahi, Hussain Mansoor Ahmad Khan, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Punjab, Senior Member Board of Revenue and Additional Chief Secretary of Home Committee.
The committee will suggest precautionary measures in case of any natural disasters like earthquake, flood or any other emergency. It will also review the rules and regulations for providing relief and financial assistance to the victims.
In a statement, CM Pervaiz Elahi said that the provincial government has taken timely measures for the rehabilitation of the flood victims of South Punjab. “The scope of relief activities in the flood-affected areas has widened,” he added.
The chief minister noted that all the flood-affected areas have been declared calamity-hit regions. “A special package of financial assistance has been given for the rehabilitation of the victims”, he concluded.
It is pertinent to mention here that flood rescue operation was underway in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur districts of Punjab while 13,045 people were transferred to safer places.
In Rajanpur and D.G. Khan 578 rescue workers and 123 boats were engaged in the flood rescue operation, according to the spokesperson.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addresses the nation in Islamabad, on August 13, 2022. — Prime Minister's Office
ISLAMABAD: In his address to the nation ahead of Independence Day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said a nation cannot be independent without economic self-reliance.
"There is no concept of a nation's independence without economic independence," the prime minister told the nation in a televised on Saturday.
"Most importantly, we will need to revive the passion that led to the creation of Pakistan," he said, noting that this passion will lead to the establishment of a great nation.
The prime minister's call for economic stability comes as the cash-strapped nation desperately seeks financial assistance from friendly countries and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The country's foreign reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan were recorded at $7,830.3 million, down $555 million compared with $8,385.4 on July 29, data released by the SBP on Thursday showed, which can cover fewer than 1.12 months of imports.
Shehbaz Sharif-led government came into power in April after the ouster of PTI Chairman Imran Khan — and since then, the incumbent rulers have been trying to stabilise the economy.
In his televised address, PM Shehbaz said that the nation has fought with terrorism and dealt with several challenges but today, it is facing hatred and anarchy.
“Attempts are being made to divide the nation and unity is being disturbed,” he said, adding the country’s economic crisis worsened following the previous government’s wrongdoings.
The PM added that the nation must look toward finding ways to take the country’s forward.
“Our government has been working day and night to save Pakistan from the economic crisis and default,” he said, criticising the previous government which led country to seek loans.
“The previous government left 48 billion in deficit — the worst in the history of Pakistan,” the PM said.
The PM added that his government has decided to start solar projects to deal with power shortage in the country.
“We have decided to take Pakistan toward economic progress, as there is no concept of Pakistan’s freedom without economic freedom,” the PM said.
While slamming the previous government, PM Shahbaz said that in 2017 and 2018 Pakistan was self-sufficient in wheat production, but the country is now forced to import wheat. He also criticised the PTI-led administration for not purchasing cheap LNG.
“Difficulties can be dealt with through economic stability and consistent policies,” PM Shahbaz remarked, adding that the nation can only progress if it overcomes challenges with passion.
He said that economic dependence has become the country’s identity, which our elders would've never thought about.
"As a prime minister, this has been my harshest experience," the PM added, questioning the PTI’s government whether on whose behest they halted the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), damaging the country's economy.
"Our [PML-N] government left the country self-sufficient in wheat, but the previous government's negligence led to the import of wheat," the premier highlighted.
At the outset of his address, the PM congratulated the nation on completing 75 years as an independent nation.
He said that the people celebrate Independence Day, Pakistan Day, Quaid-e-Azam Day, and Iqbal Day but the "truth" is, in the last 75 years, the nation has only only celebrated these days but not acknowledged the founding father's purpose.
The PM noted that the country failed to provide the young generation what they deserved.
"Why this nation is still lost even when God has blessed it?" he questioned.
US State Department has called on Ukraine's leadership to appoint a transparent successor to the sacked prosecutor as the country was criticised for managing corruption.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stands at the podium during a joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in Kyiv, Ukraine, July 3, 2022.
(AP)
The United States has urged Ukraine to pick a credible top prosecutor to replace one sacked by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling for action on corruption even as Kiev battles Russia.
"We join the people of Ukraine in emphasizing the importance of transparently appointing a highly qualified and truly independent successor as prosecutor general," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters on Tuesday.
"The independence and impartiality of the prosecutor general is vital to ensuring the integrity of accountability efforts in Ukraine," he said.
Price said that the fight against corruption, long a major concern in Ukraine, was critical as the country seeks membership in the European Union.
"Corruption must be combated even as Ukraine defends itself against Russia's war of aggression. Russia's war against Ukraine poses an external threat. Corruption poses an internal threat," he said.
Zelensky announced earlier this month that he was firing prosecutor general Iryna Venediktova as well as security chief Ivan Bakanov.
Zelensky cited the need to act against suspected treason by officials supporting Russia.
The president had been critical of the two senior figures' performance even before Russia's incursion on February 24.
The United States, which has poured billions of dollars into Ukraine to help it repel Russia, has a memorable history of addressing corruption in Ukraine.
President Joe Biden, while serving as vice president, demanded on a trip to Kiev that Ukraine fire an earlier prosecutor general seen as ineffective in fighting corruption, warning that the United States would otherwise withhold $1 billion in loan guarantees.
The episode became the source of allegations by former president Donald Trump, who was impeached for withholding security aid to Ukraine unless Zelenskyy agreed to dig up dirt on Biden.
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