ISLAMABAD: The government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has denied reports it had suspended public welfare initiatives taken by ousted premier Imran Khan’s government for the poor in the South Asian country.
Khan, who was ousted on Sunday in a no-trust vote in parliament, had opened shelters for homeless people across the country and launched the “Ehsaas” poverty alleviation program, aiming to reduce socio-economic inequalities by investing in people.
There has lately been a buzz on social media that the Sharif government was rolling back these programs due to tough economic conditions.
But Marriyum Aurangzeb, a close aide to PM Shairf and a former information minister, rejected these reports as “lies.”
“In his first address to the National Assembly after being elected prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif had made it clear that public service projects would continue,” Aurangzeb said in a statement.
“No program has been stopped, every project for the welfare of the people will be further improved,” she said.
Ex-PM Khan’s government launched the Ehsaas program in March 2019. It covers projects ranging from building homes for the homeless to ensuring financial independence for women and family planning initiatives.
Khan’s government also opened several shelter homes for the homeless and rolled out mobile food trucks under the hunger-free initiative to provide food to the poor and needy twice a day in various parts of Pakistan’s capital.
Government denies shutting down ex-PM Khan’s social safety, poverty alleviation programs
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Government denies shutting down ex-PM Khan’s social safety, poverty alleviation programs
- Government spokesperson says no program has been stopped, every project will be further improved
- Khan opened shelters for homeless people across Pakistan, launched poverty alleviation programs
Pakistan to promote mineral sector at Saudi forum this month with 13 companies
- Delegation will take part in the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh from Jan. 13-15
- Petroleum minister will lead Pakistan, participate in a 90-minute country session
ISLAMABAD: Around 13 Pakistani state-owned and private companies will attend the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Saudi Arabia from Jan. 13 to 15, an official statement said on Friday, as the country seeks to ramp up global engagement to develop its mineral resources.
The FMF is an international conference and investment platform for the mining sector, hosted by mineral-rich countries to attract global investors, companies and governments.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik confirmed Pakistan’s participation in a meeting with the Saudi envoy, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki.
Pakistan hosts one of the world’s largest copper-gold zones. The Reko Diq mine in southwestern Balochistan, with an estimated 5.9 billion tons of ore, is partly owned by Barrick Gold, which calls it one of the world’s largest underdeveloped copper-gold deposits. Its development is expected to boost Pakistan’s struggling economy.
“Upon an invitation of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Federal Minister informed the Ambassador that Pakistan will fully participate in the upcoming Future Minerals Forum (FMF), scheduled to be held in Riyadh later this month,” Pakistan’s Press Information Department (PID) said in an official statement.
The Pakistani minister will lead his country’s delegation at the FMF and take part in a 90-minute country showcase session titled “Unleashing Potential: Accelerating Pakistan’s Mineral Revolution” along with local and foreign investors.
Pakistan will also establish a dedicated pavilion to highlight the vast potential of its rich geological landscape to the global mineral community.
The Saudi envoy welcomed Pakistan’s decision to participate in the forum and discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation in the minerals and energy sectors during the meeting.
According to the statement, he highlighted the potential for cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in the minerals and energy sectors, expressing confidence that the FMF would provide a platform to expand collaboration.
Pakistan’s mineral sector, despite its rich reserves of salt, copper, gold and coal, contributes only 3.2 percent to the country’s GDP and just 0.1 percent to global mineral exports.
However, many countries, including the United States, have shown interest in Pakistan’s underdeveloped mineral sector, particularly in copper, gold and other critical resources.
In October, Pakistan dispatched its first-ever shipment of rare earth and critical minerals to the United States, according to a Chicago-based US public relations firm’s report.
