No point of holding early elections: PM

LONDON

Prime Minister Shehbaz Shar­if held a meeting with former prime minister and Quaid Pa­kistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Shar­if here on Sunday and exchanged views on different matters.

During the meeting, former fi­nance minister Ishaq Dar and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif were also present.

They discussed the current po­litical and economic situation in Pakistan, along with other issues. The meeting was of the strong view that the general elections would be held next year.

PM Shehbaz reached London the other day to attend the state funeral of late Queen Elizabeth II. Later talking to media men, the PM said that friendly coun­tries were extending assistance for the flood affectees.

He said that the relief goods were arriving on airplanes, trains and ships, adding that the people of Pakistan were also giving donations and the feder­al and provincial governments were performing their roles in relief and rehabilitation of the flood-hit people.

The coalition government had allocated Rs 70 billion and was giving Rs 25,000 each to the af­fected families through the Benazir Income Support Pro­gramme (BISP), he informed.

Shehbaz Sharif said the gov­ernment was providing clean water, food, tents and other es­sential items to the flood victims through national and provincial disaster management authori­ties. “The whole nation and the armed forces are helping the flood affectees.”

He said that the entire nation is united for relief and rehabil­itation of flood-affected peo­ple and the government is determined to complete the rehabilitation phase at the earliest. He said the federal government, in collaboration with provinces, is providing food, tents, blankets and oth­er essential items to the flood victims. Meanwhile, talking to media on the occasion, Minis­ter for Information and Broad­casting Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the government is fo­cusing on relief and rehabil­itation of flood affected peo­ple but some political orphans want chaos in the country. She said that the government is fully committed for rehabilita­tion of flood victims.