PESHAWAR: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan visited Peshawar on Friday and held meetings with key officials on a range of issues, as part of his maiden trips to provincial capitals.
During his meeting with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Gov. Shah Farman, Khan “instructed that local government elections be held in KP’s settled areas and the tribal districts simultaneously,” Shaukat Yousafzai, spokesman for the province’s government, told Arab News. No date was announced for the elections.
Khan was briefed on the performance of KP’s government, and called for the timely completion and transparency of all pending projects, including the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and the Swat motorway.
He said administrative reforms in the health sector are a priority, and called for measures to promote tourism in KP. Initiatives in the education sector were also discussed.
PM visits Peshawar, meets with officials
PM visits Peshawar, meets with officials
- KP local government elections will not take place until the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) are merged with the province, says PM
- PM also briefed about the performance of KP government and the implementation of government’s 100-day plan during his meeting with KP cabinet members
Pakistan evacuates 31 nationals to Azerbaijan amid deepening turmoil in Iran
- Islamabad designates Baku as evacuation base for citizens seeking safe transit out of Iran, says Pakistani embassy in Azerbaijan
- Security situation in Iran deteriorated after Saturday’s joint US-Israel strikes that killed country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government has evacuated 31 nationals to Azerbaijan from Iran, designating Baku as an evacuation base for citizens seeking safe transit as the security situation in the Middle East deteriorates, the Pakistani embassy in Azerbaijan said on Monday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation in the country amid regional tensions due to the joint US-Israel strikes against Iran. The US-Israel strikes killed the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering violent protests in Pakistan.
Sharif had directed Pakistani authorities to ensure the safe evacuation of Pakistani nationals from Iran via Azerbaijan during the meeting. There are over 3000 Pakistani students studying in various medical and non-medical institutes of Iran, according to Pakistan’s Ambassador to Tehran Muhammad Muddasir Tipu.
“Under directives of Honorable PM @CMShehbaz and guidance of Honorable DPM/FM @MIshaqDar50, GoP has designated Baku as the evacuation base for Pakistani nationals seeking safe transit amid the evolving situation in Iran,” the Pakistani embassy in Azerbaijan said.
“On 1 March, @PakinAzerbaijan team on ground in Astara facilitated safe crossing of 31 Pakistani nationals, ensuring onward movement to Baku for return to Pakistan.”
The embassy said it remains committed to ensure the “safe and quick relocation” of its citizens back to Pakistan, thanking Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry for its support.
Tensions surged across the Middle East on Saturday after the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran. Tehran subsequently targeted US military bases in Gulf states, including the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan, which prompted condemnations from regional governments. Saudi Arabia also confirmed Iran launched attacks in Riyadh and the Eastern Province.
Tehran launched missile and drone strikes in the Middle East for the second consecutive day on Sunday in response to ongoing US-Israeli air raids that killed Khamenei, throwing the future of the Islamic republic into uncertainty and raising the risk of further instability in the volatile region.
Khamenei’s killing triggered violent protests in Pakistan on Sunday, with at least 17 people killed and over 70 injured in protests in Karachi and Skardu. Pakistan has urged protesters to remain calm in the wake of the worsening security situation in Iran.
