Latest news with #ShehbazSharif
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Must be an embarrassment': Defence secretary's jibe at Shahbaz Sharif over Trump-Munir lunch; warns of China-Turkey nexus
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif NEW DELHI: In a sharp assessment of regional military dynamics, India's Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Friday expressed surprise over US President Donald Trump 's recent lunch meeting with Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, calling it "an embarrassment" for a country where the military overshadows the civilian government. 'It is surprising. It must be an embarrassment to any country that the military chief gets invited and the prime minister is nowhere to be seen,' Singh said. 'It's a very strange thing... It's a weird, structurally imbalanced state where the military essentially has first claim on resources.' His remarks come amid growing global scrutiny of Pakistan's internal power dynamics and its military's central role in foreign policy. On India's recently concluded Operation Sindoor , Singh revealed that the Pakistani military faced 'manifold' losses in terms of both men and material compared to India. 'In terms of both assets, material and casualties, the losses on their side are manifold, anything that we have suffered,' he said. Singh also commented on speculation about Chinese support to Pakistan during the operation. While ruling out direct involvement, he hinted at indirect assistance. 'Collusion in terms of equipment, supplies, helping them out in various ways, perhaps with satellite imagery as well — all that could have happened, but definitely they did not take any active role,' Singh said. 'Trust is low… Pakistanis don't have many resources, so they will do all this begging, borrowing, etc., to get equipment from wherever they can, whether it is Turkey or China. So we should be aware of that nexus and take appropriate steps.'
Business Recorder
9 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pakistan to lease ships for PNSC to curb $4bn forex drain
In a bid to save much-needed foreign exchange, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed authorities to lease ships to expand the fleet of the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC). The development came during a review meeting on PNSC matters held in Islamabad, read a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Chairing the meeting, PM Shehbaz noted that due to the shortage of vessels in PNSC's fleet, the country is compelled to spend $4 billion annually from the national exchequer on sea-borne trade. The prime minister has sought a business plan for PNSC, which should be presented within two weeks. As per the PMO statement, the plan should outline a roadmap to eliminate the $4 billion annual burden on the national treasury. During a briefing on PNSC's performance, it was informed that the organisation currently possesses ten ships of various types, with a total cargo-carrying capacity of 724,643 tons. PNSC is Pakistan's national flag carrier, primarily engaged in the transportation of dry bulk and liquid cargoes globally. It was established in 1979 by merging the National Shipping Corporation (NSC) and the Pakistan Shipping Corporation. PNSC operates under the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Government of Pakistan. Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahsan Iqbal Cheema, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, and senior officials of PNSC were also present at the meeting. Earlier in February, PM Shehbaz greenlit an extensive reform initiative designed to revive the country's maritime industry. The key components of the reform plan encompass restructuring of PNSC, the modernisation of the National Ports Master Plan and standardisation of tariffs throughout the country's ports.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Operation Sindoor: Pakistan's Dy PM Ishaq Dar finally admits they asked for ceasefire after India struck Nur Khan & other key airbases
Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has confirmed that Islamabad requested a ceasefire from New Delhi after India targeted the Nur Khan and other key air bases during Operation Sindoor , a retaliatory strike following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. India attacked the Nur Khan and Shorkot airbases on the intervening night of May 6 and 7. Dar disclosed that the strikes took place while Pakistan was still getting ready to respond, suggesting that India moved first and took them by surprise. Within 45 minutes of the strike, Saudi Prince Faisal offered to speak to the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on behalf of Pakistan's deputy PM, seeking to halt further action against Pakistan. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Japanese Sharpener Makes Knives as Sharp as Scalpels SurudoiSharp Undo ALSO READ: Shehbaz Sharif admits Pakistan caught unawares by Brahmos missile Dar's remarks suggest that Pakistan urgently sought support to convince India to stop its limited and targeted military operation, which was described as 'precise, measured and non-escalatory.' Live Events — OsintTV (@OsintTV) His confession stands in contrast to earlier statements by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior Pakistani officials, who had asserted that Pakistan had delivered a strong response to India. Prime Minister Sharif himself had also recently acknowledged that India conducted BrahMos missile strikes on multiple locations, including the Rawalpindi airport. Nur Khan airbase Pakistan air force Base Nur Khan, situated in Chaklala, Rawalpindi is around 10km from Islamabad, Pakistan capital. It is an active airbase that encompasses the former Benazir Bhutto International Airport within its grounds. ALSO READ: Pakistan's AWACS destroyed in India's BrahMos strikes, admits ex-Air Marshal: 'missiles kept on coming' The facility, originally established as RAF Station Chaklala and later known as PAF Base Chaklala, continues to serve as a vital military installation in Pakistan. The base is also home to PAF College Chaklala, which trains Aviation Cadets, and Fazaia Inter College Nur Khan, providing additional educational facilities on the premises. Imtiaz Gul, a defence analyst, claimed that the strategically important Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi is 'under American control.' Rafiqui airbase Pakistan air force base Rafiqui, situated near Shorkot in Jhang District, is a major military installation located 337 kilometers south of Islamabad. The base features a 10,000-foot runway with a parallel taxiway that serves as an emergency landing strip. The airbase was previously known as PAF Base Shorkot before being renamed after Sarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui, a fighter pilot from the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. ALSO READ: Operation Sindoor: How BrahMos strikes and precision airstrikes became turning points in the standoff The base's infrastructure includes a primary runway and an emergency taxiway system that allows for aircraft recovery operations when needed. Operation Sindoor Operation Sindoor was India's swift, calculated tri‑service cross-border assault on the dead night of May 6 and 7, targeting nine terror camps deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan‑occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the brutal April 22 Pahalgam massacre that claimed 26 innocent lives. Within 25 minutes, India's Army, Navy and Air Force deployed SCALP cruise missiles, HAMMER smart bombs, loitering munitions and ground-to-ground weaponry, killing around 70 to 100 militants and crippling key Lashkar‑e‑Taiba, JeM and Hizbul Mujahideen infrastructure at Bahalwalpur and Muridke in Pakistan. Pahalgam's terrorists thought they were sending a message when they murdered husbands in front of their wives, after selecting victims by their religion. Via the name Operation Sindoor, the government sent an immeasurably bigger message back as India avenged the loss suffered by those women. Sindoor, vermillion, is a symbol of marriage in Hindu custom. Pakistan's military-intelligence-jihadi complex would have been among the first to note the image put out by Indian Army right after government's confirmation of the strikes - Operation Sindoor in block letters, with the first 'O' represented by a bowl of vermillion. (With TOI inputs)
Business Recorder
15 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Counterfeit medicines: PM launches drive to eradicate black market
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday launched a bold drive to eradicate the lucrative and deadly black market for counterfeit medicines in the country, calling for urgent adoption of cutting-edge technology to tackle the growing menace. Chairing a high-level meeting focusing on the Ministry of National Health, Sharif made it clear there will be no tolerance for substandard drugs putting lives at risk. He urged pharmaceutical companies to seek accreditation from the World Health Organization (WHO). He said such recognition would raise the quality standards of Pakistani medicines and expand export opportunities. Sharif also directed officials to develop a roadmap for collaboration between welfare organisations and the private sector to improve medical services in Islamabad. He described providing top-quality healthcare to the public as a government priority. The prime minister stressed the importance of third-party validation for medical colleges to ensure high standards of education, warning that no compromises would be tolerated. He reiterated that political interference in health sector reforms would not be accepted. The Health Ministry officials briefed the prime minister on challenges facing the health sector and proposed sustainable solutions. They revealed plans to fully digitalise the registration process for medicines and medical equipment by the end of next month. Additionally, efforts are underway to integrate newly established basic health units, regional blood centres, and the Isolation Hospital and Infection Treatment Centre in Islamabad into the mainstream healthcare system with support from the country's affluent class. In a separate meeting, Sharif reviewed progress on the Jinnah Medical Complex and Research Center project in Islamabad, stressing the need for transparency throughout all stages. He described the complex as a future state-of-the-art hospital that will provide advanced medical services and research facilities to the region. The meeting was told that promotional roadshows had been held in China, Turkey, South Korea, and Singapore, attracting interest from globally renowned companies. Two major conferences related to the project also saw participation from 33 companies across 10 countries. The process to acquire 600 acres of land for the complex is reportedly progressing rapidly, with international advertisements placed to recruit experts and consultants. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
16 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
PM directs finalising industrial policy
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed the early finalization of the industrial policy to boost production and provide sustainable solutions to the challenges facing the industrial sector. Chairing a meeting on industrial development, he emphasized that the policy must be prepared in consultation with all relevant stakeholders. The prime minister said equipping local industries with a skilled workforce and modern technology in line with international standards was a top government priority. During the meeting, recommendations for the development of national industries were presented to the prime minister. Vocational training Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed to align all vocational and technical training offered across Pakistan with international standards to enhance global employability of the country's youth and boost foreign remittances. Chairing a high-level meeting on the operations of the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), the prime minister emphasized the need for globally accredited training programs to strengthen Pakistan's skilled workforce and increase its demand in international markets, a Prime Minister's Office news release said. The NAVTTC officials briefed the prime minister on recent initiatives, including the mapping of vocational institutions nationwide and the activation of the National Technical and Vocational Training Data Management System. WB country director Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday held a farewell meeting with the outgoing Country Director of the World Bank in Pakistan, Najy Benhassine. During the meeting, the prime minister expressed best wishes for Najy Benhassine and prayed for his health and success. "You played a pivotal role in strengthening the partnership between Pakistan and the World Bank, for which we are grateful," the prime minister said while talking to Benhassine.
