PM Shehbaz reissues warning to Afghanistan over cross-border TTP attacks
“TTP should be stopped from killing our innocent people,” says PM urging Afghan government action
- PM calls TTP attacks from Afghanistan “red line” for Pakistan.
- Tribute paid to Benazir Bhutto on her martyrdom anniversary.
- Pakistan prepares for ICC Champions Trophy, PM expresses optimism.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday asked the Afghan government once again to act against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) carrying out terror activities inside Pakistan from across the Afghan border, calling it unacceptable and a red line for his country.
In his opening remarks during the cabinet meeting, the prime minister said: “Unfortunately, TTP is operating from Afghanistan and carrying out terror attacks and killing innocent people inside Pakistan. This cannot go on. We have conveyed to the Afghan government that we desire good ties with them but TTP should be stopped from killing our innocent people.”
“This is a red line. TTP operating from there against Pakistan is unacceptable,” he added.
He highlighted that Afghanistan was a neighboring country with a thousands of kilometers-long shared border with Pakistan, adding: “We desire cordial ties with each other and cooperation in trade, economy and other sectors.”
The prime minister asked the Afghan government to formulate a solid strategy as Pakistan was ready to talk with them on the issue. But the policy of talks and allowing TTP to operate against Pakistan can’t go simultaneously, he remarked.
He said that the armed forces and the law enforcement agencies of Pakistan were ready at all-times to ensure the country’s peace and security. A few days ago, 16 Frontier Corps (FC) personnel were martyred and the forces eliminated also several terrorists in North Waziristan operations on Thursday, in which an army major was also martyred.
Referring to the 17th anniversary of her martyrdom observed on the day, the prime minister remembered Benazir Bhutto as a courageous lady with political sagacity and acumen.
He paid tribute to the late former prime minister saying that she was the first female prime minister of the Islamic world, and always believed in political coexistence and the same approach led to the signing of the Charter of Democracy with Mian Nawaz Sharif which was later endorsed by all political parties.
He said the services and sacrifice of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed for democracy and the country were exemplary and would be remembered forever.
On the issue of the shortage of medicines in Parachinar, PM Shehbaz told the cabinet members that the federal government had supplied 1,000 kilograms of medicines to the area through helicopter which also airlifted patients from there who were being treated in Islamabad.
The premier apprised the meeting of his telephonic conversation with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to condole the incident of tragic plane crash which killed 38 people and left 24 injured. He expressed the hope that the Pakistan-Azerbaijan ties would strengthen in the coming months.
About the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, he said the arrangements for the international sports event had been made and expressed the hope that the people of Pakistan will witness high-quality cricket.
The prime minister told the cabinet members that under the ADR agreed with the banks and the government, Rs 70 billion will go to the national kitty in a year and around Rs 240 billion in three years.
He said that in recent years, the banks had earned windfall profits owing to the high interest rate. The matter will be approved by the cabinet before the final nod by the President of Pakistan.
PM orders uninterrupted gas supply to during winter
Chairing a meeting held in Islamabad to review the situation of gas supply across the country, the PM, notice of complaints by the domestic consumers, directed to permanently resolve the issue of the shortage of gas supply by bringing reforms in the system structure.
“Providing gas to domestic consumers is the government’s top priority”, the prime minister said.
During the briefing, it was informed that there was a surplus of RLNG (Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas) in the system, leading to improvements in gas load management compared to last year.
The meeting was told that the duration of gas load shedding this year was shorter than last year.
Gas is being provided to domestic consumers from 5 AM to 10 PM, while gas is also being provided to the power sector according to its demand, the meeting was further informed.
Similarly, it was told that online dashboards for consumer complaints by Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) were operational and the complaint resolution rate for SNGPL was 93%, while SSGC’s rate was 79%.
As per the briefing, all gas fields in the country were active.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahmad Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for Petroleum Dr. Musadik Malik, the Prime Minister’s Coordinator Rana Ihsan Afzal, and other relevant senior government officials.
