The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, has stated that the government has taken various measures to provide relief to the common man, amounting to 129 billion rupees. The announcement was made during an emergency meeting chaired by the Prime Minister to review the situation of the petroleum products supply chain. The meeting discussed the implementation of the austerity measures and saving initiatives, as well as relief measures for the poor and underprivileged classes.
According to a statement, the Prime Minister directed the relevant ministries to submit final proposals after consulting with the provinces, and to take strict action against smuggling and hoarding of petroleum products. The Prime Minister emphasized that the government will continue to provide relief to the poor classes, as it has done in the past three weeks.
The briefing stated that the government has taken austerity measures to reduce its expenses, including cutting down on the development budget. The Prime Minister said that the government has taken these measures to prevent an increase in the prices of petroleum products and to provide relief to the common man.
The Prime Minister also stated that the government is keeping a close eye on the petroleum products supply chain, and that the digital dashboard is being used to monitor the demand and supply of petroleum products. The meeting also discussed sensitive political issues, including the recent visit of the Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, to the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) leader, Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
The Pakistan Navy conducted a joint naval exercise with China, known as Exercise Sea Guardian 4, in Karachi. The exercise was conducted from March 25 to April 1 and included a five-day visit to the Karachi Port and a two-day exercise in the Northern Arabian Sea.
In other news, a 8-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a Quranic teacher in a madrasa in Karachi. The police have arrested the suspect and registered a case against him. A Pakistani sailor, Yasir Khan, was killed in a missile attack on an Iranian port in Bandar Abbas on March 23. His funeral prayer will be held in his hometown of Maad Pur.
In a separate incident, a fire broke out in a building in Sharif Faisal Street in Islamabad, but was brought under control by the fire brigade. The building is currently being evacuated, and all residents have been safely removed.
In a statement, the Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, condemned the Israeli government’s decision to approve the death penalty for Palestinians. The Karachi police conducted a crackdown on vehicles with fake number plates in various areas of the city. The police spokesperson said that an SSP has been removed and a special team has been formed to investigate the matter.
The government has announced that the collective holiday on Friday will be applicable to both government and private schools. Former Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami, Saraj ul Haq, has asked the government to focus on the issues of Balochistan. The Prime Minister has stated that young people are the future of the nation and that the government is taking practical steps to provide them with modern skills and make them an effective part of the national workforce.
In other international news, the French Navy chief has stated that the number of Chinese ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz is not sufficient to restore normal traffic flow. The US envoy to the Middle East, Jared Kushner, has been in talks with world leaders to resolve the crisis. The US Senate Democrat, Chris Coons, has criticized US President Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran crisis.
