Punjab CM-elect Hamza Shahbaz's oath-taking deferred once again

The oath-taking of the newly elected chief minister of Punjab, PML-N's Hamza Shahbaz has been postponed for the second time despite all preparations.

Everything was done and dusted and Hamza was expected to be sworn in as Punjab CM with Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjarani administering the oath to him in a ceremony at Governor House, Lahore on Saturday night. However, the ceremony had to be deferred once again as the Senate chairman couldn't reach Lahore.

Emergency measures had been taken for the ceremony as per the orders of Lahore High Court. Sources within the Governor House said that all the preparations for the oath-taking had been made after receiving verbal instructions from the President' Office but no written order had been received.

After the cancellation of the ceremony, the PML-N has decided to approach the court again.

Meanwhile, PML-N Deputy General Secretary Ataullah Tarar said that Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema would be remembered in history as a violator of the Constitution.

"It has been decided to file a contempt of court petition against him," he added.

The statement came during a press conference flanked by Owais Leghari, Malik Ahmed Khan, Rana Mashood Ahmed, Khalil Tahir Sindhu and Khawaja Imran Nazir at the party's central secretariat.

Tarar said that the largest province in terms of the population had been without a chief minister and cabinet since April 1, 2022.

"If the Constitution is violated, a civilised citizen has no choice but to go to court," he said, adding the LHC in its judgment had ordered that the oath-taking could not be delayed.

"Omar Sarfraz Cheema has disrespected the post of governor. He has been admitted to the hospital. The order of the LHC had been received by the President of Pakistan at 6pm on Friday but despite the passage of the whole day, the President continued to consider it,” he maintained.

Owais Leghari said that the president was bound by the advice of the prime minister.

“Now President Alvi has written a letter to the Prime Minister's Office asking what we should do in the light of the decision of the LHC.”

He said that everything was stopped for the sake of one person.

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New Pakistan government willing to curb fuel subsidies

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Miftah Ismail on on Friday agreed with IMF recommendations to reduce fuel subsidies.

Pakistan s new finance minister on Friday agreed with IMF recommendations to reduce fuel subsidies, pledging to pursue structural reforms to boost a crisis-wracked economy.

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The International Monetary Fund in 2019 approved a $6 billion loan over three years for Pakistan but disbursement has been slowed down by concerns on the pace of reforms.

Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, who took office this month after a previous government lost a no-confidence vote, said he had "good discussions" with the IMF on a visit during the Washington-based lender s annual spring meetings.

"They ve talked about removing the subsidy on fuel. I agree with them," Ismail, himself a former International Monetary Fund economist, said at the Atlantic Council.

"We can t afford to do the subsidies that we re doing. So we re going to have to curtail this," he said.

He said that former prime minister Imran Khan set a "trap" for his successors through heavy subsidies on fuel.

Ismail, however, said that some targeted subsidies should remain for Pakistan s poorest amid sky-high global prices.

Pakistan s new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed to jumpstart a moribund economy, certain to be a major issue in elections due by late next year.

Pakistan has repeatedly sought international support and suffers from a chronically weak tax base.

Ismail said that Pakistan, the world s fifth most populous nation, needed to move to a new economic model by removing obstacles and promoting exports to the world.

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PM to lay foundation stone of Khuzdar-Kuchlak Road,

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will reach Quetta on a day-long visit to Balochistan today (Saturday). Federal Minister of Communications Asad Mahmood will accompany the Prime minister on the visit.

According to sources, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif would lay the foundation stone of Khuzdar-Kuchlak Road. Federal Minister for Communications Maulana Asad Mahmood will give a briefing to the Prime Minister.

Read more: In NSC meeting, security agencies reiterate 'no foreign conspiracy' against PTI govt

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qaddos Bizenjo will brief the Prime Minister on various issues of Balochistan.

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State Department: Strong, prosperous Pakistan critical to US interests

The United States government on Friday said that a strong, prosperous, and democratic Pakistan is critical to US interests.

Responding to queries about the current political situation in the Pakistan, the State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Jalina Porter said that we have continued to say all along that there is absolutely no truth to those rumors that US was involved in any conspiracy for regime change in Pakistan.

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She underscore that the United States values its longstanding cooperation with Pakistan and has always viewed a strong, prosperous, and democratic Pakistan as critical to US interests.

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PM to lay foundation stone of Khuzdar-Kuchlak Road,

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will reach Quetta on a day-long visit to Balochistan today (Saturday). Federal Minister of Communications Asad Mahmood will accompany the Prime minister on the visit.

According to sources, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif would lay the foundation stone of Khuzdar-Kuchlak Road. Federal Minister for Communications Maulana Asad Mahmood will give a briefing to the Prime Minister.

Read more: In NSC meeting, security agencies reiterate 'no foreign conspiracy' against PTI govt

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qaddos Bizenjo will brief the Prime Minister on various issues of Balochistan.

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Hina Khar: Pakistan highly values its relations with UK

The British High Commissioner Dr Christian Turner called on Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar in her office on Thursday.

Dr Christian Turner congratulated Hina Rabbani Khar on assuming the office and hoped that both sides will work together to further deepen the Pakistan-UK relations.

Read more: PM Shehbaz Sharif summons NSC meeting

Hina Rabbani Khar thanked the British High Commissioner for the felicitations and stated that Pakistan highly values its relations with the UK, which are based on mutual respect and shared perceptions on broad range of regional and international issues.

She also appreciated the role undertaken by the British government in promoting health, education, governance and human development in Pakistan. Both sides also agreed to celebrate 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations in a befitting manner.

Besides bilateral relations, discussions on evolving geopolitical situation and regional matters including Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and Afghanistan also took place.

Hina Rabbani Khar noted with concern the economic impact of the continuity of the Ukraine crisis and expressed the need for early resolution of the matter through diplomacy and peaceful means.

The British High Commissioner thanked the minioster and conveyed his good wishes and keen interest in promoting bilateral relations.

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Three federal ministers will be expanded, one state minister to be inducted in cabinet

The federal cabinet will be expanded further as three federal ministers and one state minister will take oath of their offices today (Friday).

According to sources, those who will join Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif cabinet today include Mian Javed Latif of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Agha Hassan Baloch and Hashim Notezai of Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M).

Moreover, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain’s son Chaudhary Salik Hussain will also join the federal cabinet today.

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