P M S H E H B A Z U R G E S F O R I N N O VAT I V E , U N I Q U E

I D E A S T O B O O S T E X P O R T S

PRIME Minister Muhammad

Shehbaz Sharif has urged the exporters of the country to devise innovative and unique ideas for exports which will be helpful in earning foreign exchanges

Addressing an event at Textile Expo in Karachi on Friday, he said that despite various challenges, Pakistan has very robust, very futuristic, and extremely hardworking entrepreneurs who have gradually built Pakistan s export culture

Shehbaz Sharif said that with the joint support of the government and entrepreneurs extraordinary intellect and hard work, the provision of quality export goods to foreign customers would be ensured Welcoming the foreign delegates

AND HARD WORK FOR EXPORTS OF QUALITY GOODS the PM said he was happy to learn that over 400 foreign delegates from 60 countries participating in the expo showed Pakistan was a valuable destination for foreign guests buyers, and traders The prime minister also appreciated the industrialists, exporters, and experts who had contributed immensely to promoting Pakistan’s textile and leather exports He said Pakistan s industry had now been transformed and converted to air jet looms ginning, spinning, and waving He said that Commerce Minister, Secretary Commerce, and Zubair Motiwala had done a commendable job by arranging this expo which would help promote the country’s exports The textile sector constituted 60% of total exports while 40% labour force was absorbed in this sector he said adding that no doubt it was one of the largest sectors of Pakistan s economy Shehbaz Sharif pointed out that despite financial challenges and other difficulties, the government was committed to providing genuine support to all the export sectors including textile leather and sports to help increase the country s export volume He recalled that a few decades ago Pakistan was ahead of its neighbors in textile exports, however unfortunately it lost the grounds “But I have no doubt in mind that we can still recover from these setbacks and take hands off the clock back to 1990s and excel in our exports ” he said adding that

Imran R iaz, rules LHC

LAHORE

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed “all the agencies” to work together to find anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan whose whereabouts remain unknown since his arrest at the Sialkot airport on May 11 and produce him in the court by Tuesday (May 30)

The LHC s directive was issued in a written order following yesterday’s hearing during which Lahore police Deputy Inspector General (Investigation) Kamran Adil told the high court that both the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Military Intelligence (MI) had said that Khan was not in their custody

In the order issued today, the court observed that a report was submitted to it on behalf of the interior ministry secretary that “stipulates denial of arrest/detention of the missing person by the proceedings on behalf of the Ministry of Defence

The order further stated that no one had attended court proceedings on behalf of the Ministry of Defence and “no report pertaining to steps taken by the agencies working under their control” sought by the court in an order dated May 22 2023 was found among documents submitted to it by police

Therefore, all the agencies are directed to work together in terms of the order dated May 22 2023 to effect the recovery of the missing person/detenue and produce him in the court on May 30 2023 the order read

It also stated that the additional inspector general (legal) submitted documents and a written report to the court to substantiate that a working group constituted under the direction of this court’s order has taken extraordinary steps to find out the whereabouts of the missing person/detenue which although remained unsuccessful and requested for the grant of three/four days more time with the hope that they will try their best to recover him”

Naveed Qamar its team and the finance minister combined could turn the table

The prime minister said Naveed Qamar had put in place the national compliance cell which was the need of the hour and we are obviously grateful to the European Union for GSP plus status and again I am aware of the fact that all reviews have been done and we respect all international requirements in this behalf whether it is good governance human rights or any other requirement He maintained the government believed in the rule of law and merit, and come what may, the government would toe the line of constitution and policies

Speaking on the occasion Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar said that

Riaz’s lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq also confirmed the development saying that the court order clearly suggests that all institutions working under the provincial and federal government have to ensure that all resources at their disposal are employed and extend full cooperation for the safe recovery” of the anchorperson IMRAN RIAZ’S ARREST:

Riaz was among the individuals apprehended in the wake of protests that erupted in the country after the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan

Later, his lawyer stated that a writ petition was filed on May 12 over the anchorperson’s arrest and the LHC directed the attorney general to present him before the court the same day But after its orders were not followed Sialkot police were given a 48-hour deadline to recover Imran

A first information report (FIR) pertaining to the matter was registered with Civil Lines police on May 16 on the complaint of the anchorperson s father Muhammad Riaz

The FIR was registered against unidentified persons and police officials for allegedly kidnapping Imran, invoking Section 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person) of the Pakistan Penal Code

Pakistan offered numerous opportunities for investment to foreign investors

He stressed the need to provide more incentives to the exporters to boost the exports of the country He also assured the entrepreneurs of the government s full support saying that it would provide a conducive environment for them to help Pakistan not only to build up the country s foreign exchange reserves but also to lessen their dependence on international lenders

The commerce minister said last month the government set up the compliance cell in the ministry to coordinate the efforts for meeting all the conditionalities for various programs including GSP Plus Chairman Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Zubair Motiwala said Pakistan was known for the standard textile products around the world

Imran Khan to be highly welcomed in Nor th: GB CM

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Chief Minister Muhammad Khalid Khurshid Khan has said that former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan would be highly welcomed in the North if the PTI chairman decides to visit for a holiday

Responding to PTI Chairman’s tweet that he thanked the government for placing his name on the no-fly list saying that he would not leave the country and if provided with a chance he would go to the Northern mountains, GB CM said that Imran Khan would be highly welcomed in the north GB CM Khalid Khurshid said: “InshaAllah Chairman Imran Khan would be highly welcomed in the north if he decides to visit Putting him on ECL is yet another desperate and useless measure by the fascist regime Earlier, Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan thanked the sitting PML-N led PDM government for adding his name to no-fly list, says he has no plans to travel abroad He tweeted ” I want to thank the government for putting my name on the ECL as I have no plans to travel abroad because I neither have any properties or businesses abroad nor even a bank account outside the country If and when I do get an opportunity for a holiday, it will be in our northern mountains my favourite place on earth” he added It was worth mentioned here that the government on Thursday placed the names of PTI Chairman Imran Khan his wife Bushra Bibi and dozens of other leaders who have or still not quit the party on the no-fly list on the grounds that they might flee abroad

ISLAMABAD

O R T

Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted more wind dust/thunderstorm intermittent rain in upper and central parts of the country during the next week and temperature during this time remain normal In a report issued on Friday the Met Office informed that another westerly wave is likely to enter in western and upper parts of the country on 28th May (Sunday) likely to persist till 31st May (Wednesday) Under the influence of this weather system: Wind-dust-thunderstorm/rain is expected in Balochistan (Quetta Zhob, Barkhan, Qilla Saifullah, Qillah Abdullah, Chaman, Pishin, Noshki, Naseerabad, Kalat, Lasbella, Khuzdar & Sibbi) Sindh (Sukkur Dadu Karachi Hyderabad Jacobabad Shaheed Benazirabad Mirpurkhas Khairpur & Larkana) Punjab (Layyah, Bhakkar, D G khan,

Rajanpur, R Y khan, Bahawalnagar, Multan Sahiwal Khanewal Okara & Pakpattan) on 28th (evening/night) & 30th May

Wind-dust/thunderstorm-rain with a few hailstorms (Isolated heavy falls) is expected in Kashmir (Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian Bagh Haveli Sudhanoti Kotli Bhimber Mirpur) GilgitBaltistan (Diamir Astore Ghizer Skardu Hunza Gilgit Ghanche Shigar), Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan, Bajaur, Kurram, Waziristan Kohat Bannu Tank Karak Dera Ismail Khan Islamabad Murree Galliyat Rawalpindi Attock Chakwal Gujranwala Sargodha Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana, Mandi Bahauddin, Khushab, Mianwali, Narowal Sialkot Kasur Lahore & Jhelum from 28th (evening/night) to 31st May with occasional gaps

In a continuous struggle to overcome financial challenges the Finance Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has entered into an overdraft for the eighth consecutive month Concerns have also been raised about the increasing overdraft in the coming month due to the allocation of funds for development projects

The caretaker government had previously sent a letter to the federal government requesting over Rs2 billion in additional funds to address the province s financial difficulties and meet pending obligations However, no progress has been made on this request so far

Sources revealed that during the previous PTI-led government’s tenure the provincial government had also faced difficulties in receiving timely funds from the federal government which forced them to resort to borrowing As a result the volume of borrowed contracts has now exceeded one