Here’s what’s happening across the border: Prime Minister Imran Khan flies to Saudi Arabia and Army Chief is in China.
61 cars from PM House already auctioned, but Imran Khan uses helicopters
In line with Imran Khan government’s austerity drive, 61 cars from Prime Minister House, including five bullet-proof vehicles, were auctioned Monday, Dawn reported.
The PTI government posted a video saying that the money from this drive will be utilised for welfare of the people of this country.
Protected Land Cruiser V8 gets auctioned off for 2 crores and 74 Lakhs. A reminder that all this recovery will go back into serving the people of Pakistan under #PMAusterityDrive. It is these efforts that will add up to a revolution in leadership mindset in Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/7fyu4sEwej
— PTI (@PTIofficial) September 17, 2018
The vehicles already auctioned include a 5,000 cc reinforced Mercedes SUV model that fetched Rs 14. 5 million and a Land Cruiser V8 which was sold off for Rs 27.4 million. A few models of BMW, Mercedez Benz and Toyota cars were also included in the list of vehicles to be auctioned.
However, questions have been raised about whether Imran Khan is really serious about the austerity drive given he frequently commutes by helicopters from his Bani Gala residence in Islamabad that cost almost 2 lakh Pakistani rupees ($1,633) per hour, Reuters said citing a report.
Last month, information and broadcasting minister Fawad Chaudhry had come under the scanner for citing incorrect statistics on expenditure on chopper ride, saying it cost only Rs 50 per km.
Imran Khan flies to Saudi Arabia in first foreign trip
Prime minister Imran Khan is set to travel Tuesday to Saudi Arabia on a two-day trip, his first foreign visit since the PTI government came to power. The trip comes exactly a month after Khan took office, and was planned after receiving an invitation from the Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, The News International reported.
Discussions between Khan and his counterparts are to be held on the lines of regional and international issues. The king will also host a state banquet for Khan at the royal court. In addition, a meeting of the secretary general of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Dr Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen has been scheduled with Khan. Pakistan is a key member of the council.
Earlier on 7 September, Saudi minister for culture and information Awwad bin Saleh Al-Alawwad visited Pakistan and met Imran Khan, top civil and military officers apart from his counterpart Fawad Chaudhry.
Pakistan’s army chief in China on a three-day visit
Pakistan’s army chief, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, who is on a three-day trip to China, paid a visit to the headquarters of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Monday and met Chief General Han Weiguo, The Express Tribune reported.
COAS arrived at Beijing, China on three days official visit. During the visit COAS will interact with various Chinese leaders including his counterpart.
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) September 16, 2018
The two top officers discussed matters concerning regional security, CPEC, bilateral security cooperation, among others, a press release issued by the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations said.
COAS met PLA Chief. Regional security environment, security of CPEC and bilateral security cooperation discussed. Chinese Gen expressed his keen desire to benefit from Pakistan Army’s combat experience and also expand bilateral cooperation. pic.twitter.com/E5K2DdshMD
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) September 17, 2018
The PLA chief praised Pakistan’s efforts in combating terrorism and ensuring security to CPEC projects. He was also keen to derive benefit from Pakistan Army’s combat experience.
Pakistan, UK announce initiative for repatriating looted wealth
British home secretary Sajid Javid and Pakistan law minister Farogh Naseem Monday launched what they call an accountability “initiative” between the two countries aiming to target the repatriation of “looted wealth to the country”, Dawn reported.
Among other things, the initiative will incorporate joint efforts at tackling corruption. Shahzad Akbar, special assistant to the PM on accountability said, “The agreement on exchange of convicted personnel will also be renewed.”
Productive discussions with new Pakistan foreign and interior ministers in Islamabad today. Agreed to improve cooperation on anti-corruption & counter-terrorism – vital to the security of both our countries pic.twitter.com/dCpRtlaLCe
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) September 17, 2018
Javid, who was on an official visit to Islamabad, also pressed for enhancing mutual cooperation with Pakistan on matters such as defence and regional security in view of global threats of terrorism and extremism. “The United Kingdom will continue to help Islamabad,” he said.
Earlier, foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met Javid and exchanged views on issues such as organised crime, migration, human trafficking, money laundering, among others. The British home secretary also met prime minister Imran Khan Monday.
Delighted to meet Pakistan’s new Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI today – a good friend of Britain. Our two countries are committed to doing even more together on security, regional stability and trade pic.twitter.com/eISzxs6LPl
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) September 17, 2018
Interesting tweets of the day
Pakistan Media Watch, an independent non-political blog, tweeted that several media anchors, who want to be in the ‘good books’ of the Imran Khan government, has been endorsing their activities
To justify its claim, PMW cited an example of a reporter, who apparently praised ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s policies when he was in power, now gave the impression that the PM House built during Sharif’s tenure was solely meant for him.
Lots of anchors r jumping on PTI bandwagon 2 b in good books of the ruling party. This anchor is making it out as if Nawaz Sharif built PM House 4 himself n no other PM livd thre bt just few months bak this anchor was all praise 4 Nawaz Sharif’s foreign policy & Shahbaz’s vision pic.twitter.com/GiDI82nGR8
— Pakistan Media Watch (@PakPressWatch) September 17, 2018
Pakistani journalist and author Gul Bukhari recalled that while ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif visited Imran Khan to offer prayers on his father’s demise in 2008, Khan did not reciprocate this gesture by attending Begum Kulsoom Nawaz’s funeral at Jati Umrah.
March 2008. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at Imran Khan’s father’s demise, offering prayers.
Prime Minister Imran Khan does not believe in these gestures of sharing others’ grief. He didn’t turn up to condole with Nawaz Sharif. pic.twitter.com/jqBcg3bFI2
— Gul Bukhari (@GulBukhari) September 17, 2018
UNDP’s Pakistan division has announced the launch of ‘2018 Statistical Update for Human Development Indices and Indicators’. It has attached a chart showing how Pakistan fares compared to other South Asian countries (India, Bangladesh and Nepal) on indicators such as gross national income per capita, HDI value, expected years of schooling and mean years of schooling.
On 14 September 2018, @HDRUNDP launched the 2018 Statistical Update for Human Development Indices and indicators.
See how #Pakistan fares compared to other countries in South Asia https://t.co/mFvASNUlbH #Data4HumanDev pic.twitter.com/APzTeIL3nc— UNDP Pakistan (@UNDP_Pakistan) September 17, 2018
Imran Khan’s housing plan will be worth $180 billion
UK based real estate tycoon and Imran Khan’s close friend Aneel Musarrat announced that approximately $180 billion will be required to construct five million houses in Pakistan.
Imran Khan had promised to build five million houses in the run-up to the elections. It was reported last week that Musarrat will act as adviser to Khan in this project.
Fresh after attending an official meeting at PM House presided by the PM on the issue of building 5 million new homes, IK's friend real estate developer Aneel Musarrat tells reporters in the UK it's a massive project worth $180 billion
And guess who will execute it? ?? pic.twitter.com/NohUmVTa0S
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) September 17, 2018
Musarrat said, “If we deliver first 1.5 million homes in five years, one home will cost from eight to 10 thousand dollars, which will add up to 15 billion dollars.”
The next set of 1.5 million houses with two to three bedrooms will cost nearly 18 to 20 thousand dollars and the total value will be $30 billion, he added.
Sharifs are back in jail after five-day parole
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Capt. Muhammad Safdar Awan (retd) were taken back to the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi Monday to resume their sentences, reported Dawn.
The trio was granted a five-day parole to attend the funeral of Kulsoom Nawaz, the ex-PM’s wife who died last week after long ailment.
According to the report, a convoy of cars carried the Sharifs from their family residence in Lahore, who then boarded a special plane for Islamabad. After reaching there they were directly taken to the prison.
Now, Musharraf to donate money for dam construction
When nearly every celebrity in Pakistan is donating money for the construction of dams, how former military dictator Pervez Musharraf be left behind.
According to a report, chairman of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) Musharraf has announced that he will donate 15 million rupees for the construction of dams.
It was Musharraf, who laid the foundation of Diamer-Bhasha dam in 2006. He had said, “Water and energy are matters of life and death for us. We have to build all dams”.