National News

ISLAMABAD, (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif
on Monday said despite inheriting major challenges including power
crisis, deteriorating economy and law and order, the government team
with its hard work had steered the country towards better position.
Talking to Saudi Arabia’s Chairman Majlis-e-Shura Dr. Abdullah
Mohammad Al-Sheikh here at the PM House, the Prime Minister said
the country was experiencing highest foreign reserve account in
the history.
The Prime Minister mentioned that there was zero power
load-shedding in industrial sector and much reduced electricity
outage for domestic users now.
He said the operation Zarb-e-Azb launched after the political
consensus had yielded many fruitful results and the terrorist were
on the run and hitting soft targets.
The Prime Minister said that democracy in Pakistan was
flourishing and today’s Parliament was much more democratic as well
as vibrant as compared to the past, a PM Office statement said
issued here.
The Prime Minister added that PML-N not only secured a big
victory in recent local body elections but also stood victorious in
almost all the by-elections, which is a reflection of its
popularity amongst the masses.
Warmly welcoming the Chairman, the Prime Minister said the
government and the people of Pakistan hold the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in high esteem.
The bilateral relations between Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia are deep-rooted in common faith, culture, history and
heritage, he said.
Sheikh Dr. Abdullah Mohammad Al-Sheikh thanked the Prime
Minister for a warm welcome and extended compliments and best wishes
on behalf of the Custodian of the Holy Mosques.
He said the exchange of parliamentary delegations was
important not only for sharing expertise and parliamentary
experience but would also strengthen the bonds of friendship between
the brotherly countries.
Dr. Abdullah Mohammad Al-Sheikh lauded the economic turnaround
achieved by Pakistan and appreciated the investor-friendly policies
of the government.
He expressed confidence that under the leadership of Prime
Minister Sharif, the country would eventually come out of these
challenges on permanent basis.
Earlier in a meeting, the Chairman Majlis-e-Shura Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia extended his heartfelt condolences on loss of innocent
lives in Lahore blast and refuted such terrorist’s acts in strongest
terms.
The Saudi delegation included Dr. Saad Mohammad Al-Haraiqi,
Member Shura Council, Dr. Abdullah Hamad Al-Harbi, Member Shura
Council, Dr. Faleh Mohammad Al-Sagheer, Member Shura Council, and
Abdullah Marzouq Al-Zahrani, Ambassador of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
to Pakistan.
Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Minister of State
for Petroleum Jam Kamal Khan and other senior officials of the
government were also present in the meeting.