Pakistan: Signs of thaw as PM meets prez for the 1st time

ISLAMABAD: For the first time after assuming the prime minister’s office, Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday met President Arif Alvi and discussed the evolving political and economic situation in Pakistan following the ouster of the Imran Khan-led government through a no-confidence motion.

The meeting came a day after Alvi, a member of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, excused himself from the oathtaking ceremony of Sharif’s 34-member Cabinet. In Alvi’s absence Senate chairman Sadiq Sanjrani administered the oath to new ministers.

The oath-taking ceremony was scheduled to be held on Monday, but Alvi that time also refused to administer the oath to the lawmakers, compelling the government to postpone it. The president also skipped the oath-taking ceremony of PM Sharif on health grounds after which Sanjrani had taken over the responsibility.

During the meeting held at Aiwan-e-Sadr (President’s house), Alvi and Sharif discussed issues related to the evolving political and economic situation in the country, according to a statement issued by the President’s Secretariat.

According to sources, Sharif enquired about Alvi’s health.

The meeting lasted for 15-17 minutes, Geo News reported.

Pakistan ‘drowning’ in debt, warns PM Sharif

Pakistan was “drowning” in debt and it was the new government’s job to “sail this ship ashore”, Sharif said on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, finance minister Miftah Ismail pledged to pursue policies that will meet the demands of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as Pakistan looks to unlock billions of dollars in aid. “I will go to the IMF and we will get it restored,” said Ismail in a press briefing on Wednesday.

The statement comes ahead of talks with the multilateral lender to unlock the $3 billion pending from a loan agreement that was suspended amid the political turmoil in Pakistan.