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
Peace can only prevail if Afghanistan renounces support for ‘terrorism’— Pakistan defense chief
- Pakistan’s chief of defense forces visits South Waziristan district bordering Afghanistan
- Pakistan says has killed 481 Afghan Taliban operatives since clashes began last Thursday
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir said on Wednesday that peace with Afghanistan can only prevail if Kabul renounces support for “terrorism” and “terrorist” organizations, the military’s media wing said as the two countries remain locked in conflict.
Fighting between the two neighbors, the worst in decades, broke out last Thursday night after Afghan forces attacked Pakistan’s military installations along their shared border. Afghanistan said its attacks were in response to earlier airstrikes by Pakistan against alleged militant hideouts in its country.
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of sheltering militant outfits such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on its soil who have launched attacks against Pakistani civilians and security forces in recent years. Kabul denies the allegations.
Munir visited Wana town in Pakistan’s South Waziristan district to review the security situation and troops’ operational preparedness at the Afghan border, the Pakistani military’s media wing said in a statement.
“The Field Marshal reiterated that peace could only prevail between both sides if the Afghan Taliban renounced their support for terrorism and terrorist organizations,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
The military chief said the use of Afghan soil by militant outfits to launch attacks against Pakistan was unacceptable, vowing that “all necessary measures” would be taken to neutralize cross-border threats.
During the visit, Munir was briefed by military commanders about ongoing intelligence-based operations and measures being taken by the military to manage the border with Afghanistan.
He was also briefed about “Operation Ghazab Lil Haq” or “Wrath for the Truth,” the name Pakistan has given to its military operation against Afghan forces, the ISPR said.
The Pakistani military chief spoke to troops deployed in the area, praising their vigilance, professional conduct and high morale, the ISPR said.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday that the military has killed 481 Taliban operatives, injured more than 690 and destroyed 226 Afghan checkposts since clashes began.
Arab News has been unable to verify claims by both sides about the damages they claim to have inflicted on each other.
Afghanistan has signaled it is open for dialogue but Pakistan rejected the offer, saying it would continue its military operations till its objectives were achieved.
Since the conflict began, diplomatic efforts have intensified with several countries, including global bodies such as the European Union and United Nations, urging restraint and calling for talks.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that Ankara would help reinstate a ceasefire, the Turkish Presidency said on Tuesday, as other countries that had offered to mediate have since been hit by the conflict in the Gulf.
