RAWALPINDI: Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the civil and military institutions in Pakistan are working together for the good of the country, as he dismissed any suggestions of a rift. He also revealed that had he not become a cricketer, he would have been a soldier.
“There is no such thing as a civil-military tug of war,” he said during his speech at the main ceremony for the country’s 53rd Defense and Martyrs Day. “Our goals are the same: that is to make Pakistan one of the greatest countries of the world.”
The ceremony was held at the army’s general headquarters in Rawalpindi on September 6. In addition to Khan and Chief of Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, the guests included senior military and civilian officials, including opposition-party leaders Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, of the Pakistan Peoples Party, and Shehbaz Sharif, of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.
During his speech Khan also recalled that when he was just 12 years old, in 1965, he picked up his father’s gun because he wanted to join his relatives in the fight against the Indian forces that were feared to have invaded Pakistan on September 7. Khan added that had he not become a cricketer, he would now be a retired soldier.
Earlier, in a message to the nation, Khan said that Pakistan believes in peaceful coexistence and seeks friendly relations with all its neighbors. He added that while the Defense Day has become a potent symbol of national unity and solidarity, this year is different.
“This year is quite unique because the armed forces of Pakistan have stood out in [terms of] achievements in the war against terrorism,” he said.
Defense and Martyrs Day began with special prayers at mosques across the country. In addition to the main ceremony, a number of events paying tribute to Pakistan’s armed forces and those killed in action took place, and pictures of soldiers who lost their lives in battle were on display in public places. Preparations had been underway for several weeks, with the army and air force releasing videos to highlight their future plans and honor military personnel.
Defense Day commemorates the date when Indian armed forces crossed the international border to attack Pakistan in 1965. Martyr’s Day was introduced in 2014.
Imran Khan: Had I not become a cricketer, I would have been a soldier
Imran Khan: Had I not become a cricketer, I would have been a soldier
- Khan recalled that at age 12, he wanted to join his relatives in the fight against the Indian forces that were feared to have invaded Pakistan
- The prime minister addressed the Defense and Martyrs Day ceremony at the army GHQ
Pakistan seeks operationalization of World Bank’s $20 billion framework to advance reform priorities
Pakistan seeks operationalization of World Bank’s $20 billion framework to advance reform priorities
- Pakistan’s finance chief meets World Bank Country Director Bolormaa Amgaabazar in the capital
- The Bank’s 10-year Country Partnership Agreement for Pakistan was approved in January last year
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday called for the operationalization of the World Bank Country Partnership Framework (CPF) to advance the government’s key reform priorities during a meeting with the Bank’s country director, according to a statement.
The Bank’s Board of Directors approved a 10-year CPF deal with Pakistan, indicating $20 billion in financing for Pakistan under the framework. The amount will include public and private financing from the World Bank Group, with roughly half expected to come from private-sector operations led by the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
“The Finance Minister emphasized the importance of effective operationalization of the CPF, particularly in priority areas such as population management and climate change,” the finance ministry said in a statement after Aurangzeb’s meeting with the Bank’s Country Director Bolormaa Amgaabazar.
“He underscored the need for strong coordination between federal and provincial governments to ensure coherence in policy design and implementation.”
Discussions focused on population, human capital development, climate resilience, agricultural reform and energy sector sustainability, it added.
The ministry said both sides exchanged views on enhancing institutional coordination, improving transparency in project design and strengthening monitoring mechanisms to deliver intended outcomes. It highlighted that the World Bank expressed readiness to continue supporting agricultural transformation efforts in collaboration with the IFC.
“Both sides agreed to continue technical-level engagements to explore feasible solutions in line with Pakistan’s reform agenda and fiscal framework,” the finance ministry added.
Climate resilience and population control are major concerns for policymakers in Pakistan, a country whose population exceeds 241 million, making it the world’s sixth-most populous country. Limited infrastructure, health care, and educational opportunities place added strain on public services, contributing to unemployment and poverty.
The South Asian nation is also among the countries most affected by climate change. Unusually heavy monsoon rains in 2022 killed more than 1,700 people and caused over $30 billion in damages. Torrential rains and floods since late June last year have claimed more than 1,000 lives, as authorities continue surveys to assess the full extent of the destruction.
