ISLAMABAD , June 14, 2023: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif left for a two-day official visit to Azerbaijan on the invitation of President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Dr Mussadik Malik, and SAPM Tariq Fatemi were part of the premier’s delegation.
During the visit, PM Shehbaz will meet the Azerbaijan president. Azerbaijan’s ministerial delegation will also meet the premier to discuss bilateral cooperation in the trade and energy sectors.
Earlier today, PM Shehbaz said the facts had disproved the false propaganda made by the PTI chief about receiving a cipher and waving a fake paper, declaring the incumbent setup an imported government.
The prime minister inaugurated road projects of the federal capital and Rawalpindi, including the Srinagar Highway-Seventh Avenue overhead bridge. He attended the opening ceremony of the reconstructed Capt Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed (previously known as IJP Road) and also performed the groundbreaking of 11th avenue. He was also given a detailed briefing on the development projects.
He said the PTI chairman tried to tarnish the prestige of Pakistan. People were being misled as they were told that his (PTI chief’s) government was removed by the US, added PM Shehbaz.
The prime minister said Russia was sending 100,000 tonnes of crude oil to Pakistan. In this regard, the first ship of Russian oil had arrived in Karachi. The premier said they did not order even a single item from Russia.
“People ask what is special about Russian oil. The price of Russian oil is lower than the world oil price. Russian oil is cheaper by at least 15 dollars per barrel than the world market,” said Mr Sharif. He said Pakistan needed foreign exchange at present.
“I congratulate Ishaq Dar and his team for giving a public-friendly budget. The country cannot achieve economic stability sans political stability. When there is false propaganda day and night in a country, who will invest there? The previous government sank Pakistan’s economy.
The prime minister said the country suffered a lot because of unmet promises with the IMF. He said the government was trying hard to get an agreement signed with the IMF. “All the conditions of the IMF have been fulfilled and I am hopeful of an agreement with the IMF soon,” he said.
Mr Sharif said if anyone had any evidence of corruption against him, he should present it before people. It was not appropriate to level false accusations.
The prime minister said the PTI chairman had pushed the entire opposition to the corner.