PM briefs president on govt’s policies, decisions

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met President Mamnoon Hussain on Tuesday and discussed with him issues of importance, including the ongoing Zarb-i-Azb operation, $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, law and order situation in Karachi and agreement with Qatar for supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

A spokesman for the president said: “The prime minister called on the president at the Presidency and discussed the situation in the country, including the progress on CPEC project, completion of energy projects, overall law and order and economic situation in the country, Zarb-i-Azb operation and the Rangers-led operation in Karachi.”

He said the meeting continued for more than an hour. “The prime minister briefed the president on policies and decisions of his government on different issues,” he said.

“They also reviewed the law and order situation in Karachi and the progress made in Zarb-i-Azb operation. The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the successes achieved in the operation and reiterated that it would continue till elimination of all terrorists in the country,” he said.

President Hussain praised the efforts made by Mr Sharif and his economic team “to revitalise the national economy through sound policy initiatives”, the spokesman said.

The two leaders “resolved that benefits of the improved economic situation in the country” would be passed on to the masses so that they could improve their living standards, he said.

They reiterated their commitment to bringing about meaningful improvements in health and education sectors, said the spokesman. Both leaders underlined the need for timely completion of the ongoing energy projects aimed at ridding the country of electricity loadshedding.

Mr Sharif also briefed Mr Hussain on his visits to foreign countries and various agreements and MoUs signed with them, including the recent LNG deal with Qatar.

The prime minister took the president into confidence over his government’s efforts to turn various state enterprises into profitable entities, the spokesman said.

Mr Sharif also informed Mr Hussain about the efforts being made for carrying out census in the country. They expressed the hope that the exercise would prove to be beneficial vis-a-vis policy formulation and judicious allocation of national resources.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2016