PM Shehbaz due in Karachi today

Itinerary includes discussions on next governor, ministries, and meetings with business community

KARACHI:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is due to arrive in Karachi with his party leaders today (Wednesday), officials at Sindh Chief Minister House confirmed on Sunday.

Discussions with allies on issues like next Sindh governor, ministries in the federal cabinet are expected to be held in the maiden visit of the port city. According to officials, the prime minister will visit Mazar-e-Quaid and chair a meeting at Sindh Chief Minister house on the development schemes.

"After three years, CM House has received an official letter for the arrival of the prime minister in the city, so the chief minister will go to receive him." said the spokesperson for the chief minister adding that outgoing prime minister Imran Khan and his protocol staff used to visit the city without intimating chief minister about the visit, therefore latter also opted to not receive him. Regarding the prime minister's first visit, a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson said, federal government funded Green Line Bus Rapid Transit projcect, K-4 water pipeline project, a meeting with business community are on the agenda. Khawaja Saad Rafique, Mifta Ismail, Marriyum Auranzeb will also accompany the prime minister during his visit.

"All the official meetings will be held at CM House rather than governor house because incumbent governor Imran Ismail who belongs to PTI's has not yet vacated his office," an official working in prime minister protocol said.

On the other hand, there are reports that the prime minister will also visit the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM-P) head office in Bahadurabad for extending support in electing him as prime minister.

"MQM-P has demanded ministries in the federal government and governorship in SIndh. Meeting between MQM leaders and prime minister is also likely on this issue," sources privy to the development said adding that MQM-P has demanded the coveted position of governor in Sindh and nominated Amir Khan as candidate for it.

"The issue of the Karachi package, the position of governor of Sindh and federal cabinet members will be discussed with PPP and MQM during the prime minister's visit," a senior PML N leader said, adding that nothing has yet been finalized and all decisions will be made with consultation of coalition partners. Regarding the reports of Bilawal Bhutto as foreign minister, he said, "PPP has asked for it, but it has not yet been finalized," he said.

There are also reports that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will also discuss development schemes for his constituency NA 249 (West), Karachi from where he had contested the general election in 2018.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 13^th, 2022.