Pakistan

PM’s BRF participation reaffirms commitment to CPEC

Published

2 months ago

October 21, 2023

Admin

ISLAMABAD:

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar recently concluded his significant visit to China, which reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to timely completion of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, a flagship of the Belt and Road Initiative, besides profusely advocating the need for collective efforts for regional connectivity and shared prosperity.

The prime minister had been to Beijing, China to participate and address the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the invitation of President Xi Jinping.

Xi opened the Forum with about 140 nations in attendance.

Besides PM Kakar, the dignitaries at the forum included Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso, Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Addressing the high-level BRF titled ‘Connectivity in an Open Global Economy’, Prime Minister Kakar appreciated President Xi’s vision for creating a global community with shared future and the BRI which held immense significance for global connectivity, common development and shared prosperity.

The visit coincided with another milestone in the bilateral ties as the two countries are celebrating the 10th anniversary of CPEC.

In his address, the caretaker prime minister highlighted the crucial role of CPEC in generating new economic opportunities in Pakistan.

Underscoring its salience for Pakistan’s robust economic development, he endorsed the Chinese proposal for developing CPEC as a corridor of growth, innovation, livelihood, green economy, openness and inclusiveness.

He also underlined the need for a united global response to address complex transnational challenges faced by humankind and to prevent backsliding on the gains achieved under the UN Sustainable Development Goals and 2030 Agenda.

He emphasised the urgency of addressing infrastructure gaps in the developing world by investing in transportation, energy, and digital economy.

On the sidelines of the forum, he also met with the leaders of different countries, including Russia, Kenya, and Sri Lanka.

He also held meetings with Chinese President Xi and Premier Li Qiang as well as the senior leadership of the Communist Party of China and discussed ways forward to deepen bilateral relations.

During his meeting with the Chinese president, the two sides discussed various dimensions of the multi-faceted Pakistan-China relationship, reaffirming their longstanding and steadfast friendship, all-weather strategic cooperation, economic and trade ties and CPEC.

Kakar, in a bilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Li, reaffirmed the time-tested and iron-clad friendship between Pakistan and China and agreed to further strengthen high-level dialogue and engagement.

“In a warm and cordial atmosphere, leaders of the two countries had in-depth exchanges of views and reached extensive consensus on strengthening the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, practical cooperation in various areas, and international and regional issues of mutual interest,” a joint statement said.

Read: Pak-China relationship cornerstone of foreign policy: PM Kakar

The two sides reaffirmed that mutual trust remained at the core of China-Pakistan relationship.

During an interaction with the Chinese think tanks and scholars, the prime minister termed CPEC a manifestation of strategic relationship which proved as a “catalyst of growth, poverty alleviation, and jobs creation”.

Caretaker prime minister also held a meeting with President of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, on the margins of third BRF.

The two leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation with a special focus on trade, investment and energy and expressed satisfaction with the steady expansion of Pakistan-Russia relations.

On the sidelines of the BRF, the caretaker prime minister met President of Kazakhstan Kassym Jomart Tokayev and President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe.

He also met Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of 3rd Belt and Road Forum and discussed the Gaza situation.

Besides, the prime minister held meetings with the leading Chinese companies and encouraged their corporate executives to explore the vast investment potential of Pakistan.

Related Topics:BRF commitment CPEC participation PMs reaffirms

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Pakistan

MQM-P urges devolution via constitutional amendments

Published

9 mins ago

December 9, 2023

Admin

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Senior Deputy Convener Mustafa Kamal has said that his party has proposed three constitutional amendments for the devolution of powers from the Chief Minister’s House to the people in the streets in order to save the country.

Addressing the ‘Meet the Editors’ programme of the Council of Newspaper Editors (CPNE) on the theme of ‘General Elections and Future Strategy’, Kamal said that the amendments proposed by the MQM-P were vital to save the country. He said that the party was sending these proposals to the leaders of all political parties.

Read MQM-P plans election rallies across Sindh

“Those who are angry with the slogan of province should support our constitutional amendments,” he said. “Despite the 18th Amendment, powers and financial resources have not been transferred to the grassroots level.” He criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), saying that the former ruling party in the provinces was banking on the boycott from London.

However, he asserted that the MQM-P would win all 22 National Assembly seats from Karachi in the upcoming general elections.
“The MQM is fully active for the preparation of the elections,” Kamal said. The MQM-P leader added that currently, there were three major political parties in the country – the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the PPP.

On the occasion, MQM-P Coordination Committee member and former federal minister Aminul Haq said that elections would be held on Feb 8. He assured that the MQM-P fully believed in the freedom of expression and the rights of journalists. Whenever any attempt was made to usurp the rights of journalists or restrict the freedom of expression, Haq added, the MQM-P, along with the CPNE and other journalist organisations, resisted and thwarted such moves at every forum, including parliament.

Pakistan

Ahad Cheema acquitted in NAB reference

Published

1 hour ago

December 9, 2023

Admin

LAHORE:

An accountability court on Friday acquitted Ahad Cheema, the special assistant to the caretaker prime minister, in assets beyond means reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Accountability Judge Ali Zulqarnain had reserved the ruling on the acquittal plea after hearing arguments of the NAB prosecutor and the defence counsel earlier in the day. Cheema also appeared before the court during the proceedings.

On Nov 27, in a supplementary report, NAB informed the court that Cheema’s assets were consistent with his known income, asserting that properties held by alleged benamidars/relatives were not his. Based on evidence, the case under NAO, 1999, was not substantiated, it added.

Read Three PM aides fail to submit asset statements

Cheema had served as the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director general during the PML-N government in Punjab. The bureau had arrested Cheema in 2018 when he appeared before a joint investigation team in connection with the Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing Scheme case.

Later, NAB initiated assets beyond means and other inquiries against him. However, Cheema obtained bail in three cases, including assets beyond means case in 2021.

Pakistan

Bilawal consults legal minds on ZAB reference

Published

2 hours ago

December 9, 2023

Admin

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday consulted legal minds of his party on the presidential reference case of his late grandfather, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

The development came during a meeting of central and provincial officials as well as legal experts of the Peoples Lawyers Forum (PLF) at Zardari House here. Bilawal chaired the meeting.

During the meeting, the PLF officials briefed Bilawal on the presidential reference case of ZAB. Farooq H Naik and Shahadat Awan participated in the meeting through video link while Qazi Bashir, Bahram Khan Tareen, Raheel Kamran Cheema, Sajid Tanoli, Gohar Rehman Khattak, Ghiyasul Haque and Asrar Abbasi were present.

Read Bhutto murder reference to be heard after 11 years

Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, Faisal Karim Kundi, Raza Rabbani and Amna Paracha were also present in the meeting.
Meanwhile, a civil society delegation also met with Bilawal and discussed the challenges faced by the masses and their solutions.
Bilawal appreciated the delegation for their services and performance in their respective fields.

Ahmed Faraz Khan Advocate, Barrister Saifullah Ghori, Bilal Tariq Khan, Dr Abdul Mohiman, Dr Maria Hamid, Dr Salma Malik, Faheem Sardar, Hafiz Muhammad Tahir, Huma Fawad, Jahanzeb Durrani and Kanwal Malik were among those who met the PPP chairman.

Lubna Bhayat, SM Tariq, Javed Akhtar, Pir Mohammad Anwar, Junaid, Raja Mohammad Khan, Sania Kamran, Shehbaz Zaheer, Shamamata Al Ambararbab, Buland Sohail, Kashaf Ahmed, Talha Rahmani, Osama Malik, Usman Iqbal Bandal and Yusuf Masih were part of the delegation. PPP Information Secretary Faisal Karim Kundi was also present on this occasion.