Day: January 20, 2023

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has called for revamping and restructuring of the international financial institutions to address complaints of global south.

Speaking at a dialogue session titled Security and Coordination in Davos on Friday, he stressed that we should return to normative functioning of international institutions for the resolution of disputes and other challenges including climate change being faced by global community.

The Foreign Minister said the prevailing disputes which have endangered the world would have been resolved amicably if the international institutions under the UN framework are working according to the needs of current era. On Ukraine issue, the Foreign Minister said we hope that eventually the space will be created for dialogue and diplomatic engagement in order to resolve the conflict sooner rather than later.

He said there is need to see a more proactive approach from both Russia and Ukraine and also pursue diplomacy in the pursuit of peace. Responding to the military element of this conflict, Bilawal Bhutto said diplomacy is the key thing that is missing in the entire issue.

Earlier, talking to President of Google for Asia-Pacific Scott Beaumont at the sidelines of World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said Pakistan looks forward to fostering public private partnerships with Google to scale up country’s digital economy and skills. The two sides also discussed ways to augment Pakistan’s technical support for forecasting extreme weather events.

ISLAMABAD: Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Friday accepted the resignations of 35 more MNAs of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNAs.

According to a press release issued by the National Assembly Secretariat, this has been done in accordance with Clause (1) of Article 64 of the Constitution and rules of procedure and conduct of Business in the National Assembly.

The resignations have been accepted with effect from April 11, 2022, the date when the letters of respective resignations were submitted. The PTI had resigned en masse from the National Assembly following the ouster of PTI Chairman Imran Khan in April last year.

Earlier, the National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf had accepted only 11 of the resignations, stating that the remaining lawmakers would be summoned individually for verification. Later, after stalling the process for eight months, the NA Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf on Tuesday, accepted the resignations of 34 more PTI MNAs and Awami Muslim League Chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed. Now the total number of MNAs whose resignations have been accepted stands at 81.

ISLAMABAD: The government is utilizing all available resources to upgrade infrastructure of Pakistan Railways to facilitate the passengers.

Responding to a question during Question Hour in the Senate on Friday, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi said the modified PC-1 of ML-1 has been approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) costing 9.8 billion dollars.

He said the National Development Reform Commission and National Railways Administration of China have been requested to arrange an early joint financing meeting with Pakistani counterparts of the Ministry of Planning and Development and Ministry for Railways for a way forward for resolution of all pending issues. Later, the House was adjourned to meet again on Monday at 04:00 pm.

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday paid tributes to the polio workers for carrying out anti-polio vaccination campaign in harsh weather conditions.

Sharing a video of a polio worker braving the heavy snowfall to reach the remote area to vaccinate the children, she stated in a tweet that the struggle to eliminate the deadly disease of polio continues in the most difficult conditions. She said this is manifestation of Pakistan’s strong determination against polio virus. She said we salute the polio workers who face terrorism and harsh weather for the health of our children.

RAWALPINDI: Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Friday the policies of the government had pushed the national economy to the brink of collapse.

In a series tweets, the former interior minister said Pakistan was unable to get financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and foreign countries but the cabinet of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif continued to swell.

The prevailing situation had worsened to the point that after Allah, only the Supreme Court could save the country, he said, adding that early election could ensure stability. Pakistan had technically defaulted on international liabilities but a formal announcement was to be made, he said. He bemoaned that inflation had reached historic high. Predicting massive protests against the government, he said people daily staged demonstrations outside Nawaz Sharif’s residence in London but he had no compunction.