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PM approves changes in cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee

PM approves

ISLAMABAD: In a move to streamline economic decision-making, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has restructured the Cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC).

Following the Prime Minister’s approval, the Cabinet Division issued a notification regarding the ECC’s restructuring.

According to the notification, Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will continue as the ECC Chairman, while Federal Minister for the Investment Board, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, has been appointed as an ECC member.

With the inclusion of the Federal Minister for the Investment Board, the total number of ECC members has now increased to eight.

Apart from this, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema, Minister for Power Division Owais Leghari, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervez Malik, Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain and Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal are among the members of the ECC.

Earlier on May 22, ECC was constituted with 7 members.

PM set to inaugurate Karachi Cantt Station’s upgradation project

PM set

KARACHI : Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Karachi on Monday for a one-day visit. He landed at Faisal Base, where Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, the Chief Secretary, and Sindh IG welcomed him.

During his visit, the Prime Minister is set to inaugurate the upgraded Karachi Cantt Railway Station, which has been modernized to provide improved facilities for passengers.

The renovated station now features CIP lounges, enhanced waiting areas, and escalators for the convenience of travelers. Additional amenities include executive washrooms, ATM machines, and free Wi-Fi services, aimed at enhancing passenger comfort and accessibility.

This initiative is part of the government’s efforts to modernize Pakistan Railways and improve infrastructure at key transit points.

PM Shehbaz, Erdogan discuss regional cooperation in Baku

PM Shehbaz

Baku: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir engaged in discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The leaders reviewed all aspects of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Turkey and expressed a shared commitment to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and across the Muslim world.

During the meeting, both sides agreed on a forthcoming visit by a Turkish ministerial delegation to Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the Pakistan-Turkey friendship reflects the strength of deep and enduring ties between the two countries.

Federal Cabinet gives nod to 27th Constitutional Amendment

Federal Cabinet

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the federal cabinet meeting via video link from Baku, Azerbaijan, where the 27th Constitutional Amendment was approved.

According to sources, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarrar briefed the cabinet on the amendment, and the proposals submitted by the Pakistan People’s Party were reviewed during the meeting.

Key Highlights of the 27th Amendment

Introduction of the position of Commander of Defence Forces, which, according to reports, will remain with the Chief of Army Staff. Establishment of a Federal Constitutional Court. Provisions for a joint seniority list of High Court judges.

Empowering the Supreme Judicial Commission to transfer judges between High Courts or their regional benches without the consent of the individual judges.

The amendment bill is expected to be presented in the Senate today as part of a supplementary agenda. Sources indicate it may be referred to the Senate’s Law and Justice Committee for further scrutiny.

The Senate session may continue on Sunday, during which detailed discussions on the constitutional amendment are expected.

Approval from the Senate is likely on Monday. Sources have also suggested that opposition parties may stage protests when the bill is presented.

The cabinet session was attended by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Musadik Malik, Rana Sanaullah, Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Aun Chaudhry, Shazra Mansab, and Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh. Law Minister and Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan were also present.

PM calls cabinet session on 27th Constitutional Amendment

PM calls

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called a federal cabinet session for 10am today to review and approve the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, officials said.

According to insiders, the prime minister will chair the meeting via video link from Baku. The government has reportedly accepted the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) proposals regarding the constitutional changes.

Sources say the federal cabinet is expected to approve the draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment during the session.

Meanwhile, the opposition has already rejected the draft. After a joint meeting, opposition parties in the Senate said that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the PPP, and their allied partners are “bulldozing legislation,” adding that the constitutional amendment draft is being kept hidden from them.

Earlier, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari briefed the media following a meeting of the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC), saying the committee agreed on three key points of the proposed amendment.

Bilawal said the PPP will support amendments to Article 243 and favours the establishment of constitutional courts. He added that issues related to the Charter of Democracy must also be revisited.

Bilawal further stated that, under the NFC Award, provincial funds can increase but not be reduced. He stressed that the unfinished agenda of the Charter of Democracy must be discussed, and the party will see whether consensus can be developed on other clauses during the process of the 27th Amendment.

Govt postpones scheduled federal cabinet meeting

Govt postpones

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet session scheduled for today to review the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment has been deferred.

The session was expected to approve the draft of the 27th Amendment; however, cabinet members have been formally notified about the postponement.

The meeting was scheduled to take place at Committee Room No. 2 of the Parliament House, where key government matters and proposed constitutional amendments were to be discussed.

According to sources, the reasons behind the postponement have not yet been disclosed. A new date for the meeting is likely to be announced in the coming days.

On the other hand,  Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken coalition partners into confidence regarding the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment.

During a meeting with an MQM delegation, he assured the party that its local government draft would be incorporated into the amendment, after which MQM also extended its support.

MQM representatives also pledged to assist the government in securing backing from other political parties.

According to sources, MQM placed several demands before the prime minister, including granting financial, administrative, and political powers to local governments formed after the elections, setting a four-year tenure for local bodies, and holding new local government elections under a caretaker setup.

Separately, delegations from the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, PML-Q, and Balochistan Awami Party also met with the prime minister to discuss the amendment and related political matters.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has rejected all key points of the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment except the change related to Article 243.

President, PM slam India’s unlawful control over Kashmir

President

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have issued special messages on Jammu Martyrs’ Day, reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering moral, political, and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri people in their struggle for justice and self-determination.

President Zardari described the November 6, 1947 Jammu massacre as one of the “darkest human tragedies in the history of the subcontinent,” stating that over 200,000 Muslims were brutally killed by Dogra forces, RSS militants, and armed mobs.

He said that “millions of Muslims were forced to migrate after the massacre,” terming it as one of the darkest chapters in modern history. The President lamented that the international community failed to give due attention to the genocide of Kashmiri Muslims, adding that their sacrifices remain a painful reminder of the unfinished story of Jammu and Kashmir.

President Zardari said India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir continues to deny basic rights to its people, while the revocation of Articles 370 and 35-A was part of a “dangerous demographic engineering plan.”

He called the move a violation of the Geneva Conventions, urging the international community not to remain silent over India’s human rights abuses in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

He reaffirmed that Pakistan will continue to stand by the Kashmiri people in their just struggle for dignity, justice, and freedom.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his message, called November 6, 1947, a dark day in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, noting that “even after eight decades, the pain of that tragedy remains etched in the memories of Kashmiris.”

He said the day symbolizes the Kashmiri people’s courage and unyielding resolve in the face of oppression. The Prime Minister stated that Indian forces and extremists had subjected over 237,000 Kashmiris to violence and genocide, attempting to alter the region’s demographic and religious composition.

The Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and around the world are observing Jammu Martyrs’ Day today to pay tribute to the hundreds of thousands of Muslims who were massacred in November 1947.

The day commemorates the memory of those who lost their lives when Hindu extremists brutally killed unarmed men, women, and children in Jammu during the first week of November 1947. Kashmiris continue to mark this day each year, reaffirming their resolve for freedom and justice.

For the past 77 years, the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir have been enduring continuous oppression under India’s illegal occupation. Rights groups and Kashmiri leaders have urged the international community to break its silence and recognize the mass killings in Jammu as an act of genocide.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have issued special messages on Jammu Martyrs’ Day, reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering moral, political, and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri people in their struggle for justice and self-determination.

President Zardari described the November 6, 1947 Jammu massacre as one of the “darkest human tragedies in the history of the subcontinent,” stating that over 200,000 Muslims were brutally killed by Dogra forces, RSS militants, and armed mobs.

He said that “millions of Muslims were forced to migrate after the massacre,” terming it as one of the darkest chapters in modern history. The President lamented that the international community failed to give due attention to the genocide of Kashmiri Muslims, adding that their sacrifices remain a painful reminder of the unfinished story of Jammu and Kashmir.

President Zardari said India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir continues to deny basic rights to its people, while the revocation of Articles 370 and 35-A was part of a “dangerous demographic engineering plan.”

He called the move a violation of the Geneva Conventions, urging the international community not to remain silent over India’s human rights abuses in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

He reaffirmed that Pakistan will continue to stand by the Kashmiri people in their just struggle for dignity, justice, and freedom.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his message, called November 6, 1947, a dark day in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, noting that “even after eight decades, the pain of that tragedy remains etched in the memories of Kashmiris.”

He said the day symbolizes the Kashmiri people’s courage and unyielding resolve in the face of oppression. The Prime Minister stated that Indian forces and extremists had subjected over 237,000 Kashmiris to violence and genocide, attempting to alter the region’s demographic and religious composition.

Highlighting India’s ongoing oppressive policies, he said that the August 5, 2019 actions were part of the same strategy to suppress Kashmiris and deny them their right to self-determination, in clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions and international law.

The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s solidarity with the Kashmiri people, vowing continued support for their legitimate struggle for freedom and justice.

Pakistan, KSA reaffirm enduring strength of brotherly bonds: PM

Pakistan

RIYADH: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman renewed their commitment to advancing the deep-rooted partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, with a particular focus on expanding trade and investment cooperation.

In a post on X, he said, “It was a great pleasure and honor to meet my brother, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in Riyadh today.” “I remain deeply grateful for His Royal Highness’s personal commitment and resolute support in advancing our shared vision for deeper collaboration and prosperity for our two nations and peoples,” he added.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, where the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff, also attended the meeting.

Upon arrival at the Al-Yamamah Palace, the Saudi Crown Prince warmly received Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation.

The Prime Minister is visiting Saudi Arabia at the special invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and will participate in the 9th edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference during his stay.

US seeks balance with Pakistan, India: Marco Rubio

US seeks

NEW YORK: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington seeks to strengthen its strategic partnership with Pakistan while ensuring its relations with India remain unaffected.

“We see an opportunity to expand our strategic relationship with Pakistan, and I think we’ve made – that’s our job, is to try to figure out how many countries we can find how we can work with on things of common interest,” Rubio told journalists, traveling with him En Route to Doha, Qatar, according to a transcript of his remarks released by the State Department..

He was asked if India has raised concerns about the United States’s growing relationship with Pakistan, which have improved rapidly over the past few months with President Donald Trump hosting Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House.

“They really haven’t – I mean, we know they’re concerned for obvious reasons because of the tensions that have existed between Pakistan and India historically,” Rubio said in response to a question if New Delhi raised concerns over Pakistan ties.

The top American diplomat said New Delhi has to understand that the United States needs to have relations with a lot of countries.

“But, I think they have to understand we have to have relations with a lot of different countries,” he noted.

“So, I think the Indians are very mature when it comes to diplomacy and things of that nature. Look, they have some relationships with countries that we don’t have relationships with,” Rubio added.

Rubio added: “So, it’s part of a mature, pragmatic foreign policy. I don’t think anything we’re doing with Pakistan comes at the expense of our relationship or friendship with India, which is deep, historic, and important.”

The relationship between the United States have grown dramatically under President Donald Trump, whose administration has hailed Pakistan as a “phenomenal” counter-terrorism partner.

The two countries have also signed a $500 million agreement on exploration of rare earth, with Pakistan recently shipping the first consignment this month.

Islamabad’s praise for President Trump’s role in working out a ceasefire in May conflict with India and nomination for Nobel Peace Prize for the U.S. leader have also generated goodwill for the ties.

In August, Rubio said every single day the United States keeps an eye on what happens between India and Pakistan, the two nuclear powers who fought a deadly 87-hour long conflict in May.

President Trump announced on May 10, the two countries agreed to a ceasefire, something Pakistan openly acknowledged while India denied US had any role.

Washington’s ties with India have been strained over a delay in trade agreement and Washington’s 50% tariff on Indian goods for its purchases of Russian oil.

PM Shehbaz urges regional countries to benefit from CPEC

PM Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has emphasized the need to strengthen economic and trade linkages across the region to promote peace and development, urging neighboring countries to take advantage of opportunities under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Addressing the concluding session of the Regional Transport Ministers’ Conference, the prime minister said CPEC is proving to be a transformative initiative for the entire region.

He noted that connecting Gwadar with China’s Xinjiang province is opening new avenues of cooperation in development and the energy sectors. “This collaboration will not only benefit all stakeholders but also reinforce collective efforts for peace and progress,” he remarked.

Prime Minister Shehbaz further stressed that enhanced regional connectivity will revolutionize economic and trade activities. “In today’s era, connectivity is not limited to roads, rail, or air routes — investment in digital infrastructure is equally vital,” he said, adding that Pakistan is investing in this domain to fully harness the benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.