ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said the impressive performance of Pakistani fighter jets during Marka-e-Haq significantly boosted international demand for Pakistan’s indigenously produced aircraft.
Addressing a federal cabinet meeting, he said several countries were actively engaged in discussions with Pakistan for the acquisition of these aircraft. He noted that defence exports would provide a major impetus to national defence production and contribute to strengthening the economy.
The prime minister congratulated the armed forces and all stakeholders on the successful induction of the indigenously developed Taimoor Weapon System by the Pakistan Air Force and the LY-80N missile system by the Pakistan Navy. He also paid tribute to the security forces and law-enforcement agencies for their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, reaffirming the government’s resolve to eliminate terrorism completely.
Highlighting federal development projects in Balochistan, the prime minister said the 850-kilometre Karachi-Chaman Road was being constructed at a cost of Rs400 billion with federal funding and would be completed within a year. He added that Rs50 billion had been released for the solarisation of agricultural tube-wells in the province.
He informed the cabinet that seven Daanish Schools were under construction in Balochistan and were expected to be completed by the end of the year. In addition, 100,000 laptops and scholarships were being provided to students in the province to support higher education.
Meanwhile, the federal cabinet constituted a committee to consider a new design for national currency notes. The State Bank of Pakistan briefed the cabinet on the proposed redesign in line with modern requirements, informing members that international experts had been engaged for the task. The cabinet also reviewed a draft Private Hajj Policy concerning the registration and third-party scrutiny of private Hajj operators and referred it to the Hajj Policy Committee. It ratified decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCE) at its December 24 meeting, including approval of an Integrated Energy Planning framework aimed at aligning federal and provincial energy needs through a centralised planning mechanism. In addition, the cabinet ratified decisions of the Economic Coordination Committee taken at its meeting on December 23.
Separately, PM Shehbaz Sharif received a telephone call from Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar on Wednesday.
During their warm and cordial conversation, the two leaders expressed satisfaction over the current trajectory of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Qatar and reaffirmed their shared resolve to further strengthen these time-tested fraternal bonds.
Recent developments in the Middle East were also discussed. The PM appreciated Qatar’s constructive and proactive role in promoting peace, dialogue, and mediation across the region, and acknowledged its meaningful efforts to defuse tensions through diplomatic solutions.
He assured the Qatari leadership that Pakistan would also continue to play a positive role in maintaining regional peace and stability. Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact in the days ahead.
