Premier reiterates \u201ccomplete solidarity\u201d with Iran and urges international community to ensure an immediate ceasefire
\n islamabad
\nPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif termed the escalating armed conflict between Iran and Israel as \u201cvery alarming,\u201d warning that the situation poses a grave threat to both regional and global peace.
\nSpeaking during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the premier reiterated Pakistan\u2019s \u201ccomplete solidarity\u201d with Iran in the face of Israeli aggression and urged the international community to ensure an immediate ceasefire.
\n\u201cThe global community should ensure a ceasefire,\u201d PM Shehbaz stressed, adding, \u201cWe stand firmly with the brotherly people of Iran.\u201d
\nHe said he had spoken to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to express condolences and Pakistan\u2019s support. He also discussed the regional crisis with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
\nOn the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the PM said the suffering of Palestinians was \u201cheart-wrenching,\u201d noting that over 50,000 had been killed. \u201cThe brutality is being unleashed \u2014 but when will the world\u2019s conscience wake up?\u201d he asked.
\nForeign Minister Ishaq Dar is set to attend the OIC foreign ministers\u2019 meeting in Turkiye on June 21\u201322 to discuss the ongoing crises.
\nTurning to domestic matters, PM Shehbaz praised the fiscal 2025 budget, highlighting that the government convinced the IMF not to impose taxes on the agriculture sector. He said the tax rate for incomes between Rs600,000 and Rs1.2 million had been reduced to 1% from 5% last year.
\nHe said Rs1 trillion had been allocated for the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) to stimulate growth and development.
\nHe further lauded the professionalism of the armed forces and public unity during the recent military confrontation with India, calling the outcome a \u201cgreat victory.\u201d He noted that budgetary space for defence had been increased to address the needs of security forces fighting terrorism.
\nIn closing, PM Shehbaz commended the diplomatic mission led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Sherry Rehman for effectively presenting Pakistan\u2019s stance on India\u2019s recent \u201cunilateral and illegal actions\u201d during visits to the US and Europe.
\nMeanwhile, the federal cabinet approved a major financial scheme to eliminate circular debt of Rs1,275 billion ($4.6 billion), marking the country\u2019s most ambitious move yet to stabilise its troubled power sector.<\/p>\n
According to an official statement, the plan aims to restore investor confidence and strengthen the financial viability of the energy sector without burdening the national budget. \u201cThe scheme will eliminate the circular debt over the next six years,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Premier reiterates \u201ccomplete solidarity\u201d with Iran and urges international community to ensure an immediate ceasefire islamabad Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif termed the escalating armed conflict between Iran and Israel as \u201cvery alarming,\u201d warning that the situation poses a grave threat to both regional and global peace. Speaking during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the premier […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":481776,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-485053","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n