Shehbaz | Pakistan

Shehbaz, Nawaz condole with Qatari leadership

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday met Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and offered his condolences on the passing of his father and former emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Sheikh Tamim received PM Shehbaz at Lusail Palace in Doha, where the latter extended his condolences on Sheikh Hamad’s demise, a statement released by the Qatari leader’s office said. PM Shehbaz, who reached Qatar on a one-day visit earlier on Monday, is accompanied by PML-N President Nawaz Sharif. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar are also accompanying the prime minister. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) also shared updates from the premier’s visit to Qatar on X, saying he was in Doha to “personally convey condolences on behalf of the people and government of Pakistan to the leadership and people of the state of Qatar on the passing away of Sheikh Hamad”. In his meeting with Sheikh Tamim, he “conveyed heartfelt condolences on the s...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said the country’s civil and military leadership had taken a “mutual and singular decision” to end terrorism after multiple major terrorist incidents in Balochistan in recent days. He made the remarks at a meeting in Quetta of the Provincial Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, with Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir also present. Chairing the meeting, PM Shehbaz declared, “One thing is decided: it is a mutual and singular decision of the civil and military leadership that we must end terrorism collectively.” He said the civil and military leaders had gathered in Balochistan after “very serious incidents took place in the past four days”, resulting in the martyrdom of policemen, soldiers and civilians. Noting that 54 terrorists were killed while responding to those attacks and in subsequent operations, he affirmed, “This war [against terrorism] will continue until the last fasaadi (vicious) terrorist in Pakistan i...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is chairing a high-level meeting in Quetta to discuss the security situation in Balochistan after multiple major terrorist incidents in the province in recent days. Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir was also present at the meeting of the Provincial Apex Committee on the National Action Plan to counter terrorism. Addressing the meeting, PM Shehbaz said they had gathered in Balochistan after “very serious incidents took place in the past four days”, resulting in the martyrdom of policemen, soldiers and civilians. Noting that 54 terrorists were killed while responding to those attacks and in subsequent operations, he affirmed, “This war [against terrorism] will continue until the last fasaadi terrorist in Pakistan is eliminated.” “The brave soldiers and officers of the armed forces rendered sacrifices and sacrificed their blood, along with law enforcement agencies and innocent civilians,” he noted. The prime minister affirmed that the...

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed that a comprehensive strategy be formulated to improve small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) access to financing. He made these remarks while chairing a review meeting of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) in Islamabad. According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the premier directed the authority to formulate a comprehensive strategy, in coordination with the State Bank of Pakistan and commercial banks, to improve SMEs’ access to financing. He stressed that greater facilitation should be provided for extending loans to SMEs to boost the country’s exports. He also directed that they be supported in enhancing their productive capacity, particularly by providing awareness and access to financing for farmers processing agricultural produce. The prime minister further directed that commercial banks be encouraged to develop dedicated financial products tailored to the needs of SMEs. PM Shehbaz instructed that SMEs sho...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday, reiterating the close bond between Pakistan and Turkiye, said the two nations were “two hearts with one soul”, while emphasising that the bilateral economic partnership was “entering a new phase”. He made the remarks during a joint press conference in Istanbul with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during his official visit to Turkiye. The two leaders had held a bilateral meeting prior to the press briefing. In his remarks, PM Shehbaz described discussions with Erdogan as “very comprehensive and productive discussions”. “We expressed satisfaction over the growing momentum in bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation, while reviewing concrete steps to unlock the full potential of our economic partnership,” he elaborated. PM Shehbaz remarked that a “tremendous reservoir of goodwill” between the two nations provided them a “unique and ideal opportunity to achieve our mutually-agreed target of $5bn in bilateral trade”. “Pakistan and Turkiye have always stood fi...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Istanbul on Friday for an official visit to Turkiye at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said a statement by the government. The premier, earlier today attended the funeral Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in a US-Israeli strike on February 28. After paying his respects, the prime minister departed for Istanbul. At Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport, the premier was received by Turkish Minister of Trade Professor Dr Omer Bolat, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkiye Dr Yusuf Junaid, and officials from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Pakistani embassy. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar are accompanying the prime minister. PM Shehbaz and President Erdogan are expected to hold detailed discussions on all aspects of bilateral relations, with a particular focus on enhancing cooperation in trade and investment, added the statement. The...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on Friday paid their respects to Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in a US-Israeli strike on February 28. In a statement, PMO said that PM Shehbaz attended the funeral, where he paid “rich tribute” to the assassinated supreme leader. He also expressed solidarity with Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian and the people of Iran in their moment of “national grief”. Following the ceremony, the premier departed for Istanbul for his Turkiye visit. CDF Munir also departed for Pakistan after the ceremony, PTV reported. He was seen off by Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and senior Iranian officials. Khamenei’s body arrived at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla on Friday ahead of his funeral. Apart from PM Shehbaz and CDF Munir, other foreign dignitaries, clerics, officials and mourners also paid their respects as the body lay in state in a vast hall. Photos...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a phone call with the Qatari emir on Wednesday, during which he said the two leaders expressed satisfaction at the “positive progress” made in the first round of technical talks between the US and Iran in Switzerland and agreed to sustain this momentum. “Had a warm and most cordial telephone conversation with my dear brother, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, emir of the State of Qatar, this afternoon,” PM Shehbaz posted on X. He added that he thanked the Qatari emir for his country’s “steadfast support for the peace efforts that culminated in the historic Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding”, which was signed by the US and Iran on June 18. “We expressed satisfaction at the positive progress made during the first round of technical talks in Bürgenstock and agreed on the importance of sustaining this momentum through continued dialogue and diplomacy,” he wrote. PM Shehbaz also thanked the Qatari emir for his “kind condolences on the tragic loss of a Pakistani na...

• PPP leader likely to deliver speech today, to ‘share reservations’ on budget; lauds premier, Field Marshal Munir for Iran peace deal • PM Office says Shehbaz, Bilawal agreed on ‘sustained collaboration’ between Centre, provinces for completion of projects ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif managed to convince the head of his coalition par­t­ner, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhu­tto-Zardari, to join the budget session after the latter skipped ear­lier debates owing to his gri­e­v­­a­n­ces with the federal government. The PPP leader was also reluctant to join the budget debate, and it took Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to convince him to come to the house so that the budget could be tabled. A source close to Bhutto-Zardari said the PPP leader still had reservations but agreed to deliver his speech in the lower house, most likely on Thursday (today), where he would share some of his concerns. In the meeting at the PM House, the premier agreed to address all the PPP concerns r...

Shehbaz woos Bilawal on budget backing

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday termed the federal budget for fiscal year 2026-27 “people-friendly” and hoped that it would promote an “export-oriented” economy. He made the remarks in a meeting with women parliamentarians from the PML-N, where he thanked them for their participation in the ongoing budget debate. He expressed hope that people will be able to benefit from the “relief-oriented” budget after the restoration of peace in the region, according to a press statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). According to the statement, PM Shehbaz noted that the budget had introduced “measures to empower women in the country as well as increase their inclusion in the mainstream,” terming it a “top priority” for the government. He also spoke of Pakistan’s peace efforts in the US-Iran war, expressing gratitude to countries who supported Pakistan throughout the peace process. PM Shehbaz commended the efforts of the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, De...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that the peace deal between Iran and the United States is expected to be finalised in the next 24 hours. A day prior, PM Shehbaz said that a “final, agreed-upon” text of the peace deal between Tehran and Washington had been reached, adding that Islamabad was working “closely” with both sides to finalise the next steps of the process. “We are closer to a peace deal than ever before,” the premier said on X, adding that Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing of the peace deal, and technical-level talks would follow afterwards. “We would like to thank [the] United States of America and Islamic Republic of Iran for their ongoing commitment during the negotiations, and we extend our sincere appreciation to our brothers in the region for their support,” he wrote. “We are confident that this historic peace deal will form a strong foundation for lasting peace.” Yesterday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made similar comments, calling the potential deal t...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday affirmed the government’s commitment to contribute to the development of all provinces. He made the remarks on the floor of the National Assembly on Saturday, a day after the federal budget for FY27 was proposed. He began his speech by noting that he would not give a “detailed response” to the criticism voiced by Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai, but at an “appropriate time”. After the NA proceedings began at 11am, Achakzai had spoken mostly on the country’s law and order situation. He had also criticised the government’s decision to freeze the development allocations for the provinces, contending that it would hit their health and social sectors. Noting that all MNAs were immensely respectable and the legislature was akin to a “house”, PM Shehbaz said, “Each one can have their politics and vision, but one thing that this House will always attest to is that we are here if Pakistan is.” “There is no difference of opinion on this,” he affirmed, recalling Achakzai...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday confirmed that a “final agreed-upon” text of the peace deal between Iran and the United States had been reached. A day prior, US President Donald Trump said the United States and Iran could sign a peace deal as soon as this weekend, which, if finalised, would be the most significant diplomatic breakthrough yet to end the months-old war. “We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “The strait will officially open as soon as we sign, which could be soon, very soon, maybe over the weekend in Europe,” he said. In a post on X, PM Shehbaz said Islamabad was working “closely” with both sides to finalise the next steps of the process. “Peace has never been this close as it is now.” The premier also cautioned against an “incessant misinformation campaign being waged by those who want to sabotage the peace deal”. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made similar comments, calling the potential deal the “Islamabad memorandum ...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday stressed the importance of the country having “strong” security, as he spoke about the budget-making process. He made the remarks during a federal cabinet meeting that approved the budget, which is now expected to be tabled in the parliament. “Today, we are presenting the third budget of our government,” the premier noted. “There were definitely a lot of challenges while preparing this budget. I believe that no nation can handle its matters, let alone make progress, if its security is not strong and invincible,” the prime minister stressed. He added, “We have to build water reservoirs and dams [as well as] work with speed on indigenous energy resources, which include solar panels, wind, and batteries.” The prime minister mentioned that “measures for tax relief and economic progress” will be proposed in the budget. Noting that the government had “lengthy discussions” with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during the budget-making process, PM Shehbaz said he had a 30 ...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday approved a strategic roadmap for comprehensive reforms in Pakistan Railways, which includes improvements in services, digitisation, track upgradation and private-sector investment, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. In a statement, the PMO said PM Shehbaz chaired an important meeting on reforms in Pakistan Railways in Islamabad on Thursday, adding that the prime minister approved the strategic roadmap for comprehensive reforms in the railways sector. The PMO stated that the meeting was given a detailed briefing on the strategic roadmap and targets for comprehensive reforms in Pakistan Railways. “The roadmap includes targets to increase market share in both passenger and freight sectors,” the statement said, while highlighting the key points. “Improvement in railway services, enhancement of network capacity and financial sustainability will be the key pillars of the roadmap,” it added. Furthermore, the roadmap also includes targets related to “improving the govern...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday urged all sides in the ongoing Middle East conflict to “exercise restraint and give peace a little more chance” after a new round of hostilities between Iran and Israel. “The recent surge in violence in the Middle East is a stark reminder of the dangers associated with a tenuous ceasefire and the unbearable consequences it may lead to,” PM Shehbaz said in a post on X. “We sincerely urge all sides to exercise restraint and give peace a little more chance,” the premier wrote, emphasising that the “final objective is just about to be achieved”. He noted that Pakistan was working “earnestly and painstakingly, together with our brothers and partners, to find a peaceful diplomatic solution to the conflict”. “Let us continue to remain on the path of peace and diplomacy which have bright prospects of success instead of violence and destruction!” PM Shehbaz urged. PM Shehbaz’s statement comes after Israel and Iran exchanged attacks on Monday for the first time since the shaky ce...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday hailed the “true and special relationship” between Pakistan and the United States, which has spanned nearly eight decades and covers bilateral interests in security, counter-terrorism, energy and science, among other fields. Addressing an event marking the US’s 250th anniversary, PM Shehbaz noted that Islamabad and Washington had “worked closely at the most consequential moments of our history, whether it be the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s or the global war on terror from 2001–2021”. “Last year, following India’s unprovoked aggression after the Pahalgam incident, it was President [Donald] Trump’s timely and most decisive intervention that resulted in a ceasefire between Pakistan and India on May 10, last year,” he said, referring to a brief four-day war between the nuclear-armed neighbours. “We shall forever remain grateful to President Trump for restoring peace in South Asia and saving millions of people. In this context, he will always be remembered ...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during a meeting with the Chinese ambassador on Wednesday, stressed the need to follow up on memoranda of understanding (MoUs) signed during a recent visit to China, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement. On May 24 in Hangzhou, the premier chaired the opening ceremony of the third Pakistan-China Business-to-Business (B2B) Investment Conference, which was focused on “charging infrastructure, battery energy storage and solar technologies, and pharmaceuticals”. Agreements and MoUs worth more than $7 billion were signed between the two sides at the conference to promote cooperation and investment in various sectors. The PMO, in the statement, said Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong called on the premier at PM House and congratulated him on Eidul Azha, with PM Shehbaz expressing gratitude for his “efforts to make the visit successful, in every aspect”. “While conveying his firm resolve to ensure the further strengthening of Pakistan-China All Weather Strategic Cooperati...