Shehbaz Sharif Archives

PM Shehbaz highlights role of cybersecurity in national defense

July 22, 2026 by Newsdesk

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan’s armed forces used autonomous systems and cybersecurity capabilities to defend the country’s borders during “Marka-e-Haq,” underscoring the growing role of advanced technology in national security.

Addressing the Indus Robotics and Autonomous Systems Expo in Islamabad, Sharif said the exhibition reflected Pakistan’s ambition to become a leader in emerging technologies in the 21st century.

The prime minister said the use of technology in the security sector was a source of national pride, adding that Pakistan had made significant progress in advanced technologies, including achieving more than 60% indigenous production of drones.

Sharif credited the armed forces, under the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, for effectively integrating modern technology during “Marka-e-Haq.” He also praised the contributions of the chief of air staff and chief of naval staff.

He said Pakistan would continue to invest in advanced technologies, including autonomous systems and cybersecurity, to strengthen its defense capabilities and safeguard national sovereignty.

PM Shehbaz highlights Pakistan’s role in regional peace

July 17, 2026 by Newsdesk

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan played an important role in promoting regional peace during the recent crisis, while highlighting growing economic cooperation with China at the Pakistan-China Pharmaceutical & Healthcare B2B Investment Conference.

Addressing the conference in Islamabad, Sharif said the recent regional tensions had affected not only neighboring countries but also the wider international community.

He said Pakistan had acted as a facilitator in efforts to ease tensions between Iran and the United States, and praised the contributions of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir to the reconciliation process.

Sharif also described China as Pakistan’s most reliable and sincere partner, reaffirming that the safety and security of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan remains the government’s top priority.

He welcomed healthcare-sector agreements worth more than $440 million, saying the investments represent another significant step in advancing the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong said Pakistan’s economy is improving under Prime Minister Sharif’s leadership and reaffirmed Beijing’s support for regional peace and stability. He added that Pakistan offers significant opportunities for investment in the healthcare sector.

Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the investment conference reflects the prime minister’s vision for expanding economic cooperation, while Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar said Sharif’s recent visit to China had opened new avenues for investment, technology transfer and industrial collaboration.

PM Shehbaz condemns missile attack on Saudi Arabia

July 14, 2026 by Newsdesk

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday strongly condemned the missile and drone attack on Saudi Arabia, warning that the escalation could further undermine peace and stability in the region.

In a statement, Sharif said Pakistan “strongly condemns the blatant attacks” carried out against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, describing them as a violation of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He warned that such actions risk further destabilizing the region and reaffirmed Pakistan’s “unwavering support” for Saudi Arabia’s security.

“Pakistan stands in complete solidarity with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during this difficult time,” the prime minister said, adding that Islamabad would continue to support sincere efforts aimed at promoting regional peace, stability, security and dialogue.

The statement came after Yemen’s Houthi movement launched missiles and drones targeting Abha International Airport in southern Saudi Arabia, in a sharp escalation of regional tensions. Saudi air defenses intercepted the projectiles, and no casualties were immediately reported

PM Shehbaz meets Qatar’s emir, offers condolences on death of ex-ruler

July 13, 2026 by Newsdesk

DOHA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during a visit to Doha, where he conveyed Pakistan’s condolences over the death of former Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Sharif paid tribute to the late emir’s visionary leadership and his contributions to regional peace, stability and development.

He also recalled Sheikh Hamad’s several visits to Pakistan and reaffirmed Islamabad’s solidarity with Qatar’s leadership and people during their time of mourning.

The Emir of Qatar thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Pakistani delegation for traveling to Doha in person to offer condolences, describing the gesture as a reflection of the close ties between the two countries.

The meeting was attended by Nawaz Sharif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and other senior Pakistani officials.

Earlier, upon his arrival in Doha, the Pakistani delegation was received by Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Prime Minister Shehbaz returned to Pakistan after concluding the one-day visit.

FIA offloaded nearly 40,000 passengers over three years

July 11, 2026 by Newsdesk

ISLAMABAD: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) offloaded 39,786 passengers from international flights over the past three years following stricter immigration screening introduced after the 2023 Libya boat tragedy, according to official documents.

The documents state that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered enhanced scrutiny at airports after the deadly migrant boat disaster, prompting the FIA to intensify checks on outbound passengers nationwide.

According to the records, 20,408 passengers were stopped from traveling due to incomplete or missing travel documents. Another 12,673 were offloaded because of low-profile or suspicious travel plans that raised concerns during immigration screening.

FIA sources said many of those passengers appeared financially unable to undertake international travel or had no prior travel history, despite plans to visit destinations such as Saudi Arabia for Umrah, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates or Thailand. Officials said such travel patterns raised suspicions of potential human smuggling or irregular migration.

The documents further showed that 3,450 passengers were prevented from traveling because their names appeared on stop lists or were subject to Interpol restrictions.

Another 505 were offloaded due to questionable travel routes, while 281 were stopped for allegedly carrying forged or fraudulent documents, including fake visas or counterfeit employment-related paperwork.

In addition, the FIA offloaded 176 passengers over irregular travel histories, 145 for document verification, 258 because they were underage, and 24 who were suspected of seeking overseas employment while traveling on visit visas.

PM directs Pakistani embassies to expand overseas job opportunities for youth

July 6, 2026 by Newsdesk

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed Pakistani embassies to accelerate efforts to identify overseas employment opportunities for young Pakistanis as part of the government’s strategy to boost skilled workforce exports.

Chairing a meeting to review youth employment initiatives, the prime minister instructed overseas missions to intensify engagement with foreign employers and labor markets to help create more job opportunities for Pakistani workers.

Sharif also ordered the complete digitization of the Protectorate of Emigration system and directed the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission and the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme to ensure the provision of internationally recognized vocational skills and language training programs with certification.

The prime minister said Pakistan’s workforce is highly capable and emphasized that the government is working to improve access to internationally recognized education, training and employment opportunities.

He instructed Pakistani embassies to strengthen mechanisms for sharing information on overseas job openings and labor market requirements, while urging relevant institutions to enhance cooperation with foreign countries to align Pakistani certifications with international standards.

Officials told the meeting that more than 800,000 young people have registered on the government’s Digital Youth Hub platform. They said training programs are underway to prepare Pakistanis for overseas employment and that embassies will upload information on available jobs and required qualifications to the portal.

PM departs for Türkiye after attending condolence ceremony in Tehran

July 3, 2026 by Newsdesk

TEHRAN: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed for Türkiye on Friday after attending a condolence ceremony in Tehran honoring Iran’s late Supreme Leader.

Sharif led a high-level Pakistani delegation at the memorial gathering, where he offered condolences and paid tribute to the late Iranian leader.

The delegation included Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, along with other senior officials.

The prime minister, the field marshal and members of the delegation offered prayers for the deceased during the ceremony.

Sharif praised the late Iranian Supreme Leader’s leadership, saying he guided the Iranian nation with vision, wisdom and foresight over several decades.

He later departed Tehran for an official visit to Türkiye.

PM reiterates call for charter of democracy, dialogue with opposition

June 13, 2026 by Newsdesk

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif renewed his call for political dialogue with the opposition, urging progress toward a “Charter of Democracy” and a broader national consensus on governance and the economy.

Speaking during a National Assembly session, Sharif said that 22 security personnel were killed three days earlier, praising the sacrifices of the armed forces and saying their efforts protect millions of citizens from harm.

He stressed the need to respect those sacrifices, saying the children of martyrs are often left unaware of the loss of their fathers who “leave this world while protecting the nation’s children.”

The prime minister reiterated his invitation to the opposition to engage in dialogue on a Charter of Democracy and a Charter of Economy, saying political differences should not come in the way of national interest.

“Politics is our own, visions are our own, but Pakistan comes first,” he said, adding that the development of all provinces is his constitutional responsibility.

Sharif also pointed to development projects in Balochistan, including increased provincial shares under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award and ongoing infrastructure initiatives.

He cited the Reko Diq mining project as an example of equitable resource distribution, saying Balochistan’s share in the project was transparent and publicly known.

The prime minister further noted that Balochistan’s NFC share was doubled in the 2010 award, and said federal and provincial contributions were being made toward the province’s development.

He added that a road project from Gwadar to Chaman is under construction to highway standards at a cost of 300 billion rupees, aimed at improving regional connectivity.

Pakistan to present Rs17.5 Trillion federal budget for 2026-27

June 11, 2026 by Newsdesk

ISLAMABAD: Federal government is set to present a federal budget exceeding 17.5 trillion rupees for the fiscal year 2026-27 on Friday, with proposals under consideration for salary and pension increases for government employees and tax relief measures worth up to 50 billion rupees.

According to official reports, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will chair a special federal cabinet meeting to approve the budget draft and related fiscal proposals before it is presented in parliament by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

The budget aims to set tax revenue targets at around 15.267 trillion rupees, while also offering potential relief for salaried individuals through revisions in income tax slabs.

Officials said no major changes are expected in taxes on solar panels, stationery items, or the stock market. A previously proposed increase in sales tax on solar panels from 10% to 18% has been withdrawn.

However, the government is considering raising sales tax on imported electric vehicles up to 25%, while maintaining existing tax rates on hybrid vehicles. Incentives for locally manufactured electric vehicles are also under review, including reduced duties on motors, batteries, and other components.

A petroleum levy target of 1.727 trillion rupees has been proposed for the upcoming fiscal year. Debt servicing is expected to require 7.824 trillion rupees, while defence spending is projected at around 3 trillion rupees.

Economic projections suggest exports of $32.8 billion against imports of $70 billion, leaving a projected trade deficit of more than $37 billion.

Growth targets include 3.8% for agriculture, 4% for industry, 4.5% for large-scale manufacturing, and 4.2% for the services sector. The government also aims to create 2 million new jobs across agriculture, industry, and services.

Officials said the National Economic Council has already approved a national development plan worth 3.669 trillion rupees, including a federal Public Sector Development Programme of 1 trillion rupees.

The budget also includes proposals for new taxation measures, including bringing cryptocurrency transactions into the tax net and imposing capital gains tax on crypto trading profits. Officials are also considering removing tax exemptions for former tribal areas and expanding sales tax coverage on several food and consumer goods.

Authorities said up to 220 billion rupees in new taxes may be introduced, with overall revenue enhancement measures expected to generate up to 1 trillion rupees in additional income.

Pakistan marks 28 years of nuclear tests on Youm-e-Takbeer

May 28, 2026 by Newsdesk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday marked the 28th anniversary of its nuclear tests, celebrated as Youm-e-Takbeer, commemorating the country’s declaration as a nuclear power on May 28, 1998 in Chaghai, Balochistan.

In his message on the occasion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to former leaders Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, as well as scientists Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan and Dr Samar Mubarakmand.

The prime minister said Pakistan’s nuclear capability serves as a strong deterrent, adding that without it, the country could have faced greater external threats. He said the nuclear umbrella and armed forces remain a key barrier against aggression.

Shehbaz Sharif also claimed that India staged a “false flag” operation in Pahalgam, which he said was countered through national unity and the efforts of the armed forces. He praised the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir for professional excellence.

He further alleged that the Afghan regime had facilitated hostile agendas, and accused adversaries of supporting proxy groups following their failure.

He reiterated that Pakistan’s armed forces remain fully prepared to defend the country with modern capabilities.

Separately, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the Chief of Army Staff, the Air Chief and the Naval Chief extended congratulations to the nation, saying Youm-e-Takbeer reflects a historic achievement that turned Pakistan into a declared nuclear power.

According to ISPR, the day restored strategic balance in South Asia and symbolizes national unity, resilience and sovereignty. It added that Pakistan’s defence capability is a “national trust” built through the sacrifices of scientists, engineers, armed forces and the public.

The military’s media wing said the achievement stands as a guarantee of regional stability and effective defence, while the nation reaffirmed its commitment to a strong and prosperous Pakistan.