PML-N’s majority is in favor of South Punjab province: FM Qureshi

MULTAN (92 News) – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that a majority of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is in favor of the South Punjab province. Addressing a press conference in Multan on Wednesday, he said that the PPP had given a positive reply regarding the province. FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the PTI had already introduced a constitution amendment in the National Assembly for this purpose as per its promise. “We require a two-thirds majority to pass this amendment,” he said. He said that the new province will consist of Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions. “The issue of South Punjab is moving ahead practically. We will take the matter ahead in consultation with other parties,” he said. Qureshi said that the South Punjab Assembly will have 120 seats keeping in view the population of these divisions. “An amendment has to be made in the Articles 1, 51, 59, 106, 198, 218 for creating a new province,” he said. He said that South Punjab will be given representation in the Senate. “Seats will also be distributed on the basis of population,” he said. The minister said that a High Court will also be established after the creation of South Punjab and its centre will be Multan.

Pakistan won’t be part of any camp in US-Iran tension: FM Qureshi

Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Pakistan would not be part of any camp in the US-Iran tension. Briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs with Ehsanullah Tiwana in the chair on Tuesday, he said that the effect of joining any camp would be on Pakistan. “Some powers want to mar Pak-China relations by exaggerating the marriage issue. We will follow an effective strategy to deal with human smuggling,” he said. He informed the committee that he would pay two-day visit to Kuwait on Saturday and would meet the Kuwaiti leadership. “I will also take a letter from Prime Minister Imran Khan to the Emir of Kuwait on the visa issue. Enhancement of bilateral trade will be discussed in the meetings, he said, adding that the Emir of Qatar was also expected to visit Pakistan in future.

Pakistan approached IMF due to economic instability: Qureshi

Addressing the Senate on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Pakistan had approached the International Monetary Fund (IMF) due to economic instability. He said that the previous government had departed without announcing the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. “We will not distribute funds whimsically like the previous government,” he said. The minister questioned that why the PPP not observing the destruction of Sindh. “AIDS has spread in entire Sindh and the conditions of Tharparkar are not hidden from anyone,” he said.