Seeks opposition’s names Parliamentary panel
ISLAMABAD; Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday wrote a letter to Opposition Leader of National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari regarding Parliamentary panel on South Punjab. Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in his letter, has asked the opposition leaders to recommend names for a Parliamentary committee on the issue of establishment of South Punjab province.
The minister in his letter said that establishment of the province is subjected to constitutional amendment, which requires support from opposition as well. A day earlier, Shah Mahmood Qureshi invited opposition leaders to join government in efforts to make South Punjab a province. Qureshi, in a tweet, said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) manifesto promises creation of a separate province for the people of South Punjab. Irrespective of political affiliation, national interest requires unity on a Constitutional amendment, he added.
The minister said that as a party we continue to work consistently to deliver on recognition of South Punjab as an independent province and we have instituted separate administration, structure, budgets, jobs and benefits with over 35% development budget for South Punjab and ring fencing to stop financial re-appropriation.
“Through reform, our focus is socio-economic uplift. The South Punjab Civil Secretariat under an Additional Chief Secretary is manifest of this as is setting up district development coordination committees to improve service delivery for ease and convenience of people of South Punjab.” I welcome all opposition leaders to put the longstanding desire of the people of South Punjab foremost. Together we must reach consensus on passage of a Constitutional amendment for the creation of a separate province for South Punjab, he added.
Pakistan desirous of strengthening ties with Sudan: FM
Moreover Pakistan’s ambassador-designate to Sudan Mir Behrose Reki Baloch called on Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi here on Thursday and discussed matters of interest. The minister felicitated the ambassador-designate on his new posting. The foreign minister gave special instructions to Behrose Reki Baloch for strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and Sudan.
Qureshi said Pakistan gave special importance to the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Sudan and was desirous of further solidifying the ties.He stressed further strengthening relations of Pakistan with Sudan in all fields including politics, commerce, culture, and defence. The ambassador-designate thanked the minister and assured him of his efforts to promote ties between Pakistan and Sudan.