Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday that Pakistan took a clear and strong stand at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) against Israel\u2019s unprovoked attack on Iran, expressing full support for the Iranian people.<\/p>\n
Speaking in the National Assembly, he said that the UNSC held a special meeting earlier in the day, during which Iran\u2019s representative thanked Pakistan and other countries for their support.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, Pakistan showed why it deserves a seat on the Security Council by firmly standing with Iran and defending international law,\u201d he said. \u201cWe not only condemned Israel\u2019s aggression but also stood side by side with our Iranian brothers and sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said that Pakistan believes Iran has the right to defend itself under the UN Charter, and this was clearly explained by Pakistan\u2019s representative.<\/p>\n
He also highlighted the close friendship and shared culture between Pakistan and Iran, mentioning that Allama Iqbal is highly respected in Iran as \u2018Iqbal Lahori.\u2019<\/p>\n
The minister said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Deputy Prime Minister had already conveyed their condolences and solidarity with Iran after the recent attacks.<\/p>\n
He praised Pakistan\u2019s actions at the UNSC as reflecting the nation\u2019s true feelings and said few countries had shown such a principled stance.<\/p>\n
He also mentioned Pakistan\u2019s growing relations with Iran, pointing to recent official visits, including the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi\u2019s trip to Pakistan, which helped strengthen ties.<\/p>\n
Talking about Palestine, the minister said the people of Pakistan have always stood with the oppressed Palestinians. \u201cWe believe their sacrifices will be remembered and will not go in vain,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He recalled that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had strongly condemned Israeli violence in Gaza during his speech at the UN General Assembly and had also announced aid for Palestinians, which reflected the will of the Pakistani people.<\/p>\n
\u201cPakistan has always raised its voice for Palestine at international platforms and is among the few countries that have successfully sent aid to Gaza,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The minister criticized the opposition for spreading false propaganda from outside the country, saying such actions damage Pakistan\u2019s image globally.<\/p>\n
He said some PTI supporters living abroad have made false claims about the government\u2019s stance on Israel. \u201cThey think they are hurting us, but they are really hurting Pakistan\u2019s image and its clear position on these issues,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He reminded the House that PTI member Asma Hadeed Malik had once spoken in favour of Israel in Parliament, yet her party never clarified or condemned her remarks. \u201cIf they took action, let them show it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The minister also questioned the silence of PTI\u2019s founder on Israel\u2019s attack on Iran. \u201cWhy is he always criticizing Pakistan\u2019s army on social media but stays silent on Israel\u2019s aggression and Palestine\u2019s suffering?\u201d he asked, adding that PM Shehbaz Sharif, the Deputy PM, and other members of the government have openly spoken on the matter.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is the founder of PTI now? Why hasn\u2019t he said a single word about Israel\u2019s attack on Iran?\u201d Tarar asked.<\/p>\n
He further advised the opposition to be cautious of party members who fled Pakistan during tough times. \u201cEven when we were in opposition, we warned them \u2014 these people are not connected to the country. They disappear when trouble comes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese individuals are spreading division between patriotic citizens and opposition supporters. This is dangerous,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n
Referring to PTI\u2019s claims about elections, he asked why they only talk about the 2024 elections but ignore the 2018 results and the technical failure of the Results Transmission System (RTS).<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you want to talk about 2024, you must also explain 2018 and the poor governance that followed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said that when the PTI government ended in 2022, inflation was over in double digit. \u201cToday, it\u2019s just above 3 percent,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He added that overseas remittances and financial transactions, which had been falling under PTI, have now reached record levels.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn May alone, $4.1 billion in transactions were recorded, even though PTI leaders were telling overseas Pakistanis not to send money,\u201d he said. \u201cBut the more they called for boycotts, the more the people supported the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also rejected PTI\u2019s claims about reducing the current account deficit during their tenure. \u201cWhen you left office, the deficit was nearly $1 billion. Today, by the grace of God, we have turned it into a surplus,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Talking about the federal budget for 2024-25, he said the government has reduced income tax for salaried people and also increased salaries by 10 percent. \u201cThis shows we kept our promise to ease financial pressure on the middle class,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He then criticized the PTI-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), which has been in power for over 11 years, for failing to improve basic services. \u201cEven after a decade, KP\u2019s literacy rate is still lower than Punjab and Sindh. There are 5.5 million children who are not in school,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He asked what new steps the KP government had taken to improve health, education, or regulations. \u201cHospitals are still in poor condition, and projects like the Peshawar Safe City remain incomplete,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Tarar said the federal government wants KP to grow like Punjab, but PTI\u2019s long rule has not improved people\u2019s lives.
\nHe then highlighted major tax reforms in the new budget. He said a 30 percent tax was imposed on the sugar industry, and the FBR has audited sugar mills and recovered large amounts of unpaid taxes \u2014 something that had never been done before. He claimed that around Rs600 billion in tax evasion went unchecked in the past.<\/p>\n
He also called for action against the illegal tobacco industry. \u201cFake cigarettes are being produced in some provinces, and it\u2019s time to go after the tobacco mafia just like we did with sugar mills,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The minister praised the FBR for launching Pakistan\u2019s first-ever \u201cfaceless assessment\u201d system at Karachi Port.
\n\u201cThis system ensures that neither the sender nor the customs official knows who is assessing the goods. It has cut clearance time by 70 percent and ended bribery,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said these efforts show the government\u2019s commitment to fair governance and transparency. \u201cTaxes belong to the people, and every powerful group must pay its fair share,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday that Pakistan took a clear and strong stand at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) against Israel\u2019s unprovoked attack on Iran, expressing full support for the Iranian people. Speaking in the National Assembly, he said that the UNSC held a special meeting earlier in the day, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":425206,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-484202","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n