PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif was elected as the 23rd prime minister of Pakistan after 174 lawmakers voted in his favour after Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MNAs boycotted the election.
PTI MNAs had walked out of the halls, with Shah Mahmood Qureshi — who was the party’s candidate for the top slot — announcing that they would be resigning en masse from the NA.
After the PTI boycotted the elections and walked out of the assembly, Shehbaz remained the lone contender for the prime minister’s slot and was consequently elected as the country’s chief executive.
His election, Shehbaz announced several policy measures he intended to take as the prime minister, with a particular focus on the economy and foreign relations.Minimum wage to be increased to Rs25,000 from April 1 10pc increase in pensions from April 1.Wheat flour to be made available at a reduced price under a Ramazan package.
Shehbaz commits to making Pakistan a “paradise for investments”
High electricity prices will be addressed Measures to be taken for the progress of smaller provinces, where the youth will be given technical education and laptops Ties to be strengthened with China, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, UK and Iran Good ties with India conditional on the “just” resolution of Kashmir dispute Voice will be raised for Kashmiris, Palestinians and Afghanistan Shehbaz expressed the resolve to improve the economy through hard work and national unity. The newly elected prime minister announced that he would be making arrangements for an in-camera briefing of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security to discuss and determine the authenticity of a cable that the PTI claimed contained evidence of a foreign conspiracy to topple its government. Benazir card to be reintroduced Turning his attention to the economy, Shehbaz remarked, “I have said it many times that a life of debt is no life.”Highlighting the importance of hard work and financial independence, he said, “If we have to survive, we have to do it like an honourable and self-relying nation. Else, we cannot regain our lost status.””And if we have to take the country’s economy forward, we will have to opt for dialogue over deadlock … and rapprochement over disagreements,” he underlined.
Foreign policy by PM Criticising the PTI government over its foreign policy, he lamented that Pakistan’s strategic partners and friends had left it while it remained silent on the Kashmir issue.Underlining the importance of having good ties with China, he alleged that the previous government had attempted to weaken the friendship between Pakistan and China. “But this friendship is for forever and … I assure that we will make progress on the CPEC,” he added, thanking Chinese President Xi Jinping.
He further underlined the significance of having good ties with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, European Union nations, the United Arab Emirates, Britain and Iran. He also said ties needed to be strengthened with US on the basis of equality and “we need to raise our voice for Afghanistan” where the situation was dire.
After the PTI boycotted the elections and walked out of the assembly, Shehbaz remained the lone contender for the prime minister’s slot and was consequently elected as the country’s chief executive.
