Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Sunday that creation of South Punjab province is a necessity which cannot be ignored.
Talking to newsmen in Multan, he said the establishing a separate province in South Punjab is part of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf’s (PTI) manifesto.
The Minister said a committee has been set up on the issue to develop a political consensus as no single party is in a position to bring constitutional amendment to pave way for the creation of South Punjab province.
He said the committee will hold consultations and will come up with solid recommendations. These will be put before other opposition parties and we request them to rise above politics and make decisions based on objective reality and needs of the people.
Responding to a question, he said that All Parties Conference (APC) summoned by the opposition parties should be meaningful and not focused on saving an individual.
He rejected the possibility of Governor Rule in Sindh, terming the news as baseless.
Establishing separate province in South Punjab part of PTI’s manifesto — FM
Establishing separate province in South Punjab part of PTI’s manifesto — FM
- FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi said a committee has been set up on the issue to develop a political consensus as no single party is in a position to bring constitutional amendment to pave way for the creation of South Punjab province
- Qureshi rejected the possibility of Governor Rule in Sindh, terming the news as baseless
Pakistan’s annual consumer price rose 5.8 percent year on year in January — statistics bureau
- The reading comes a week after the Pakistani central bank held its policy rate at 10.50 percent
- It said inflation may exceed its 5-7 percent medium-term target range for a few months this year
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s consumer price inflation rose 5.8 percent year-on-year in January, official data showed on Monday, underscoring the central bank’s warning that price pressures could temporarily breach its target band as economic activity picks up.
The reading comes a week after the central bank held its policy rate at 10.50 percent, saying inflation could exceed its 5 percent to 7 percent medium-term target range for a few months this year, even as growth gains momentum and imports push the trade deficit wider.
The reading from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics compared with 5.6 percent in December, when prices fell on a monthly basis due to lower perishable food costs.
On a month-on-month basis, inflation increased by 0.4 percent in January.
The State Bank of Pakistan said it viewed the real policy rate as sufficiently positive to stabilize inflation over the medium term, even as it flagged stronger domestic demand and external pressures as upside risks to prices.
Pakistan’s finance ministry had projected inflation would remain within a 5 percent to 6 percent range in January.
An International Monetary Fund staff report has cautioned against premature monetary easing under Pakistan’s $7 billion loan program, urging policymakers to remain data-dependent to anchor inflation expectations and rebuild external buffers.
