Govt’s tenure will end on August 14, says Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday announced that the tenure of the incumbent government would end on August 14, saying that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would then announce the date for the next general election.

“I assure you that our government will end on August 14, and whenever elections happen, the ECP will announce it, and I hope that whichever government comes, prioritises education,” PM Shehbaz said while addressing an event to launch the Rs14 billion Pakistan Education Endowment Fund (PEEF).

The premier’s remarks came on the heels of reports that there would be no extension in the term of the National Assembly; rather the national and two provincial legislatures might be dissolved a few days before the end of their term to give an additional 30 days to political parties to run their election campaigns.

During their meeting last month in Dubai, PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif had also allegedly discussed the issue of the date for the next general elections and possible seat adjustments.

The reports claimed that the top leaders also discussed the names of the caretaker PM, with some media reports, citing anonymous sources, claiming that both had even reached an agreement on a name.

The other issues on the table were the date for the next elections and a power-sharing formula.

Under Article 224 of the Constitution, if any assembly was dissolved before the completion of its term, the elections would be held within 90 days.

If the assembly was dissolved on the completion of its term, the ECP had to conduct the polls within 60-day time.

Minister for Commerce Naveed Qamar also told the media on Tuesday that the ruling coalition was attempting to build consensus among all political parties on electoral reforms. He said the PPP did not support further extension of the current set-up and the caretaker governments should not operate beyond the constitutional period in any case.

PM pledges economic upturn if given mandate

Separately, addressing the foundation stone-laying ceremony of a flyover here at Shaheen Chowk on Ninth Avenue, PM Shehbaz pledged to the nation that under the leadership of its PML-N supremo Nawaz, the PML-N, if given the mandate in the next general elections, would utilise all available resources to bring the country out of the economic crisis and take it to the zenith of development and prosperity.

A state-of-the-art technology would be introduced for development in various sectors, including agriculture, energy, and industries, he added.

The prime minister said the coalition government had launched a series of development projects in the federal capital to provide relief to its residents.

The capital's most important project, he said, was the Bahara Kahu flyover that had almost been completed and its inauguration was likely by the end of the current month.

The project was not only beneficial for the residents of the twin cities but it would also facilitate people from all over the country in their travel to Kashmir and northern areas.

Referring to the Stand-by Agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), he said it was all because of the prayers of the people and now the country would resume its journey of development and prosperity.

It was not an easy task as the PML-N and its coalition partners put their politics at stake by taking tough economic decisions to save the country from default, he added.

Pakistan, he said, would now stand on its own feet. “We will promote agriculture, information technology, and other sectors. Pakistan will not only shed the debt burden but also emerge as a powerful country very soon.”

He alleged that PTI chief Imran Khan was bent on ruining the economy as evidenced by his wilful deviation from the IMF agreement. He wanted the country to default, but with the blessings of the Almighty and efforts of the coalition government, such an eventuality was averted, the prime minister added.

PM Shehbaz said not a single corruption scandal had been reported during the incumbent government's tenure of over one year, rather billions of rupees was saved by reaching big deals such as the import of wheat and the agreement of a nuclear power project with China.

The cost of the nuclear power project remained the same as agreed with the then Prime Minister Nawaz in 2018, besides a discount of Rs30 billion, he added.

Education govt’s top priority

During his address on Wednesday, PM Shehbaz said around Rs3 billion had been earmarked in the budget for the financial year 2023-24 for the endowment fund, clarifying that this amount would not be deposited into the fund this year but disbursed directly in the form of scholarships.

The premier said he wanted to see the allocation for PEEF to increase to Rs140 billion in the next 10 years. It was only through the promotion of education that the country could move forward on the path of progress and development, he added.

Shehbaz recalled that the Punjab Education Endowment Fund was established back in 2008 and provided scholarships to 450,000 students.

Terming the promotion of education as a sacred duty, the PM said that special focus should be given to areas that were lagging behind in terms of development.

He emphasised education as meaningful and relevant for modern-day requirements to compete with the world.