National Assembly meaningless to people of Pakistan: Imran Khan.

Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have been in the eye of almost every political storm to engulf the country in recent times. The Panama Papers, detailing offshore accounts and their beneficiaries, brought the party back onto the streets and in direct conflict with the ruling government in a dramatic – and anticlimactic – showdown. It is this state of constant agitation, among numerous other beguiling intricacies, that is forging a new identity for the PTI.

To find meaning in the ideology behind Khan’s enigmatic politics, the Heraldmet up with him at his residence in Bani Gala on a cool October day, as the PTI was preparing for its ‘lockdown’ of the federal capital — which later turned into a ‘celebration’. The following are excerpts from the conversation:

Herald. If seeking justice is the goal, why does the PTI still feel the need to bring its protest to the streets, when the Supreme Court has begun proceedings on the Panama leaks? Do you not think it will add to your image of having a lack of faith in the judiciary — or that of self-righteousness, where you speak highly of the courts if a decision is given in your favour and completely discredit it otherwise?

Imran Khan. Do people trust the democratic institutions in Pakistan? The answer is no. Nobody has faith in them. A recent survey at the World Economic Forum revealed that our state institutions have deteriorated further since the time of General Pervez Musharraf and, most alarmingly, that the independence of the judiciary has gone down. Imagine a military dictator having better functioning institutions than eight years of democracy under Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari.

Sanctity of holy places kept under consideration during raids: Sindh Rangers.

     

According to Rangers Sindh Spokesman, the pictures on social media by miscreants are aimed at creating hurdles in the operation carried out by Rangers.

                                                                                                       

NEW FOREIGN INVESTMENT TO BOOST ECONOMY: MIFTAH ISMAIL.

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       ISLAMABAD: Chairman Board of Investment Miftah Ismail Friday said foreign investment in auto sector would further boost the economy of the country.

Speaking in a TV programme, he said under new auto policy, the government intended to bring new foreign investment for car manufacturing as a French company is establishing its production unit in Karachi.

Initially, about $100 million would be invested by the company and it would have production capacity of upto 30000 cars in first phase, he said adding that the capacity would be increased to 50 thousand units.

With the launch of car models by new company, the customers would have more choice and reasonable price as well.

Miftah Ismail said many other companies of various countries are also taking interest to invest in auto sector of the country.

Beside new companies, current operating companies are also expanding their networks and their business is growing.

JOINING OECD CONVENTION TO BRING TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNANCE: 

 

He directed that inter-ministerial consultation should be undertaken to determine Pakistan's readiness for accession to other international conventions and protocols which create transparency and openness in governance.

He said the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and the Open Government Partnership (OGP), an initiative of the UK Government, should both be reviewed and recommendations should be made on Pakistan's preparedness for joining these multilateral fora.

He said accession to the multilateral agreements would augment Pakistan's efforts to combat fiscal crime and further strengthen its compliance framework on anti-corruption. The minister directed that all necessary steps for joining both fora should be undertaken expeditiously.

The meeting was attended by Secretary Finance Dr Waqar Massod, Special Assistant to Finance Minister Tariq Pasha and other senior officials of the Finance Ministry.

Financial matters: govt’s review petition dismissed.
                   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the constitution bars prime minister from exercising his discretionary powers in financial matters without the approval of the federal cabinet. 

The top court of the country, on August 18, had struck down a notification for withdrawing exemption on sales tax to the companies, importing cellular phones and textile goods in the country. 

It is pertinent to mention that SRO 682(I)/2013 had enhanced sales tax from 5 to 17 per cent on supplies of industrial inputs outside five export-oriented sectors including textiles whereas SRO. No 280 (I)/2013 and 460(I)/2013 had enhanced sales tax on the imported cellular phones. 

Withdrawal and modification (in the rate) of sales tax were challenged in the Islamabad High Court with a plea that such notifications had not been issued by the federal government in accordance with Section 3 of the Sales Tax Act, 1990. 

In response to the rejection of pleas by the IHC, the appellants challenged the verdict before Supreme Court to which the apex court on August 18, while announcing its 80-page reserved judgement, ruled that fiscal notification enhancing the levy of tax issued by the Secretary Revenue Division, or the Minister are ultra vires. 

The verdict also said, “Neither a Secretary, nor a Minister and nor the Prime Minister are the Federal Government and the exercise, or purported exercise, of a statutory power exercisable by the Federal Government by any of them, especially, in relation to fiscal matters, is constitutionally invalid and a nullity in the eyes of the law,” says the judgement. 

Consequently, the federal government urged the Supreme Court to revisit its verdict in the matter with a plea that a constitutionally powerful Prime Minister can exercise his powers to run the government affairs. 

Resuming the hearing of the federal government’s review petition in the matter, a three-judge bench led by Justice Mian Saqib Nisar observed that Rules of Business cannot overrule constitutional provisions. 

After hearing the arguments of Additional Attorney General Waqar Rana in the matter, the bench dismissed the review petition. 

          PM’s son-in-law for broad based inquiry.                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ISLAMABAD: Captain Muhammad Safdar (retd), the son-in-law of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, on Friday filed Terms of Reference (ToRs) in Supreme Court for the proposed judicial commission that would hold a probe into the Panama leaks.

While resuming the Panama Leaks case in response to the pleas of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and three other petitioners against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and family members for allegedly holding offshore companies, a five-member larger bench led by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali had asked all the parties to the case to submit ToRs for the proposed judicial commission. 

Filing the proposed ToRs, Safdar urged the proposed judicial commission to examine information pertaining to the involvement of Pakistani citizens, persons of Pakistan-origin and legal entities in offshore companies in Panama or any other country. 

He said the proposed judicial commission should determine in each case whether any law for the time being in force has been infringed, and if so, also determine responsibility for such infringement. 

“Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Commission shall determine whether the provisions of laws relating to income tax, wealth tax, foreign exchange, companies and elections in force at the relevant time have been infringed, with due regard infer-alia to the following matters, as may be applicable to each case:- (a) details of properties held by the off-shore companies; (b) sources of income utilized to purchase the properties in (a) above, (c) Income tax if any payable/paid on the income in (b) above; and (d) details of sellers of the properties in (a) above,” Safdar said. 

He also submitted, “to examine information relating to written-off bank loans, including:- (i) Report of the Commission on Written-off Loans set up by the Supreme Court of Pakistan; and (ii) other cases of bank loans written-off after the period covered by the said Commission by former or present holders of elective public office, and determine whether in any case loans were written-off through political influence or other than commercial considerations”. 

He further said the proposed judicial commission may examine the information relating to transfer from Pakistan of funds which have originated from corruption, commissions and kickbacks and identify the persons responsible besides making such recommendations as it may deem appropriate in all cases. 

Dr Asim gets SHC bail on medical grounds.

Dr Asim gets SHC bail on medical grounds.

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KARACHI: Dr Asim Hussain was granted bail by the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday.

Bail was also granted to Anees Qaimkhani, Rauf Siddiqui and Usman Moazzam in the case pertaining to facilitating the media treatment of terrorists.

The SHC has directed accused in the case to submit their passports and they will not be allowed to travel abroad without the court’s permission.

The SHC has also directed the anti terrorism court to complete its proceedings in two months.

COAS hails team for winning international military exercise.

COAS hails team for winning international military exercise.

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RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif met with Pakistan Army team which won Gold Medal in “Exercise Cambrian Patrol” held in UK from 14-23 October.

A total of 122 teams participated in the event known as one of the toughest patrolling test for military personnel.

COAS appreciated the team for their commendable performance in winning the medal and keeping Pakistan’s flag high.

Cambrian Patrol is physically challenging and arduous exercise which concentrates on teamwork for achieving the mission. The teams of 8 men carrying up to 40 kgs each crosses some of the most unforgiving mountainous terrain of mid-Wales, UK, amid tactical and technical challenges, testing leadership, self-discipline, courage and determination of the participants.

This is the third time Pakistan Army has won Gold in the Cambrian Patrol winning the competition last year as well.

Khattak must not misguide masses, says Nisar.

Khattak must not misguide masses, says Nisar.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

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ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has eulogized Islamabad Police and Law Enforcement Agencies for establishing writ of the sate during critical period in the Federal Capital.

Addressing Police Darbar in Islamabad today [Thursday], he said that government is well aware of the responsibility of police and Law Enforcement Agencies.

He said the government has increased salaries and facilities of Police and Enforcement Agencies which will further be enhanced in future.

The Interior Minister rejected KPK Chief Minister’s assertion and said that Frontier Constabulary and other Law Enforcement Agencies belong to Pakistan and not to a particular province which maintained law and order. He said these agencies should not be dragged in politics.

He said extra security and full protocol were given to Pervez Khattak as KPK Chief Minster and added that he is welcomed to Islamabad as Chief Minister. Chaudhry Nisar asked him not to misguide the public to achieve the motives.

Ch. Nisar Ali Khan said that government in order to maintain law and order barred those groups who are bent to spread violence in the Capital. He said a particular group is not allowed to paralyze the capital as Pakistan is a nuclear state.

The Interior Minister rejected propaganda about permission given to Difa-e-Pakistan Council to hold a public meeting in Islamabad despite imposition of Section-144.

He said the Council sought permission and accepted conditions proposed by the district administration for the purpose. He also reminded critics that DPC is not a outlawed organization as it includes parties like PML(Q), Jamat-e-Islami and JUI(Sami).

Ch. Nisar Ali Khan said salaries of FC personnel are being increased by fifty percent immediately and remaining fifty percent would be hiked in June next year. He said a new recruit would get about thirty thousand rupees a month as against about seventeen thousand at the moment. He said FC personnel would also get internal security allowance irrespective of where they are deployed.

The Minister said it would be his endeavour to have a major hospital, colleges and university for children and families of the FC personnel.

He announced award of Commendation Certificates and prize of fifty thousand rupee each for the ten thousand FC personnel who were deployed for security duties in Islamabad and Punjab during political tension.

30 Afghan killed as NATO makes airstrikes in Kunduz .

30 Afghan killed as NATO makes airstrikes in Kunduz .

                                                                      

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KUNDUZ: At least 30 Afghan civilians, including women and children, were killed in a NATO airstrike Thursday in the volatile northern province of Kunduz, officials said.

The strike occurred early Thursday after a firefight killed two US soldiers and three Afghan special forces during an anti-Taliban operation in Kunduz.

It was not immediately clear if the two incidents were related, but the killings highlight growing insecurity after the Taliban last month overran Kunduz city for the second time in a year.

“Afghan forces and coalition troops conducted a joint operation against the Taliban insurgents. In the bombardment 30 Afghan civilians were martyred and 25 others were wounded,” provincial spokesman Mahmood Danish told media.

Police spokesman Mahmoodullah Akbari gave the same toll to media, adding that the dead included infants aged as young as three months and other children.

“They were asleep when their house came under attack by coalition troops,” Akbari said.

In a brief statement on Twitter, NATO conceded it was behind the airstrike.

“Airstrikes were conducted in #Kunduz to defend friendly forces under fire. All civilian casualty claims will be investigated,” it said.

Emotionally-charged protests erupted in Kunduz after the airstrike, with dozens of relatives of those killed in the airstrike rallying outside the governor´s office, carrying the bodies of victims.

“I am heartbroken. I have lost seven members of my family. I want to know, why these innocent children were killed? Were they Taliban?” said Taza Gul, a 55-year-old labourer.

Legal Eagles to fight Panama battle now.

Legal Eagles to fight Panama battle now.

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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has directed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslime League Nawaz (PML-N) and other parties to submit written response on Thursday regarding finalisation of Terms of References (TORs) to form a commission to probe the issue of Panama Papers leaks.

A five-member larger bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali heard the petitions submitted against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Awami Muslim League (AML).

The apex court had earlier directed both the government and PTI to submit their comments after consulting with their respective leaderships on the formation of a commission and adjourned the hearing for two hours.

As the case hearing resumed, the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf expressed their consent for the formation of the commission.

The court asked the parties to present in writing their proposal for formation of the commission.

Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali said the commission will report to the Supreme Court, adding that it will hold powers equal to the apex court.

“We are determined to resolve this issue. We will solve it and we will solve it as soon as possible. Now the highest forum in the country in regards to dispute resolution has taken up this matter, so now you hold your positions, please restrain,” Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, one of the five judges hearing the case told the court.

The bench further made it clear that the court will settle the issue of TORs by itself if any party failed to respond.

PM WELCOMES SC DECISION

Speaking to reporters outside the Supreme Court, Minister for Defense Khawaja Asif said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has openly welcomed the formation of the commission on Panama Papers. He said the Prime Minister wants early conclusion of the case.

Asif said the PML-N has whole-heartedly accepted the court’s orders and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf should also take back the protest call.

He reiterated that there is no justification of the protest following the court’s proceedings on the matter.

Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique expressed the confidence that the PTI leadership will show maturity and take back the protest call for return of normalcy to the country.

Counsel of PTI Hamid Khan in his remarks said the PTI agrees to the formation of the commission.

CM to file case against Ch Nisar, others

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has decided to register an FIR against the federal interior minister, commandant Frontier Constabulary (FC) and Punjab’s inspector general of police for torturing Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf workers during the party’s march on Islamabad.

Spokesperson for the provincial government, Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani, told Dawn that the chief minister had decided to register an FIR against Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Punjab IG Mushtaq Sukhera and Commandant FC Liaquat Ali Khan who were responsible for torturing the PTI workers.

Earlier on Oct 31, thousands of PTI workers, led by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, clashed with police after they were tear-gassed following their attempts to break through the barricades, first at the Hazro area on the border of Punjab and KP and later at the Burhan Interchange on the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway.

Mr Ghani said that they had ordered gassing and torture of unarmed PTI workers and used rubber bullets against them. He said that there was no law and order situation in the wake of PTI march on Islamabad and these people, including Mr Nisar,ordered torture of their workers and KP chief minister.

He questioned that under what law the orders for torturing the peaceful PTI workers was given. He said that the FIR would likely be registered in the police station in Punjab in whose jurisdiction the torture had taken place. However, he said that they were consulting with their lawyers in this regard.

China’s ‘monkey king’ picks Trump as next US president

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SHANGHAI: A Chinese monkey described as the "monkey king" has tipped Donald Trump for the US presidency, a tourism park said, after the creature successfully predicted the winner of football´s European Championship final earlier this year.

Known as Geda -- which means knots or goose bumps -- the primate is the latest in a series of purportedly psychic animals that have popped up around the world since Paul the Octopus correctly predicted multiple 2010 World Cup matches.

The simian seer, wearing a yellow shirt emblazoned with his title, was given a chance to pick between life-sized cut-outs of Republican Trump and his Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton.

After "deliberate thought" the mystic monkey chose Trump, Shiyanhu Ecological Tourism Park said Thursday in a statement on its website. Without even waiting, he congratulated the cardboard candidate with a kiss on the lips.

The five-year-old simian correctly predicted Portugal would win the 2016 European football championship in July, two days before Cristiano Ronaldo´s side prevailed 1-0, online news portal ifeng.com reported at the time.

Then, the monkey was presented with the national flags of Portugal and France with bananas on both. It finally walked towards the national flag of Portugal and ate a banana there, the report said.

Geda´s antics seem to have been inspired by the oracular octopus Paul.

In 2010, Paul the Octopus became the world´s most famous mollusc when he foretold the results of every match played by Germany at the World Cup in South Africa, as well as Spain´s victory against the Netherlands in the final.

US presidential race tightens, but Clinton still ahead

WASHINGTON: The battle for the White House tightened on Thursday, with a fresh poll showing Hillary Clinton’s lead ebbing and Donald Trump winning over once wary Republican voters days before the monumental vote.

A CBS/New York Times survey showed Clinton leading 45 per cent to her Republican rival’s 42pc, with the vast majority of supporters saying their minds are made up.

After months of vitriolic and turbulent campaigning, political tribalism appears to be returning to the fore in the deeply divided nation ahead of Election Day on Nov 8.

Profound Republican scepticism about Trump’s controversial candidacy appears to be ebbing.

Despite the Manhattan real estate mogul’s boasts about sexual assault and allegations of groping by about a dozen women, white women are evenly split between the two candidates, the poll showed.

Similarly, Clinton’s troubles with the FBI over her use of a private email server appears to have dissuaded few Democrats, with only eight percent saying it would make them less likely to vote for the former secretary of state.

With the campaign now in its final stages, each candidate is making final arguments to voters, crisscrossing battleground states and carpet-bombing the airwaves with high-priced ads.

But neither candidate wants to make a mistake and the race has taken on a frenetic yet formulaic quality.

Even Trump is sticking to the TelePrompTer and avoiding his most explosive rhetoric as the campaign winds down.

“Nice and cool. Right? Stay on point, Donald, stay on point. No sidetracks, Donald — nice and easy,” the 70-year-old billionaire said out loud during a rally in Florida.

Instead he has warned voters that a Clinton presidency would be overshadowed by indictments, and renewed his vow to “drain the swamp” of corruption in Washington.

Clinton and her phalanx of high-powered surrogates — among them presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton — have argued Trump is “uniquely unqualified” for the Oval Office.

On Monday, the eve of the election, Clinton, her husband and the Obamas will campaign together in Philadelphia in a show of Democratic force. Trump has ridden the aftershocks of the Great Recession and waves of antipathy toward the political elite to the gates of the White House.

Could he yet cause an upset? “Democrats are quite right to be nervous about the outcome,” said a team of political analysts at the University of Virginia.

But, they added, there was no “compelling argument” that the race favors Trump or is even a toss-up. Financial markets have lurched as the race as tightened — trying to “price-in” a Trump victory that they had long thought impossible.

But even at this late stage, a Trump win would be a political surprise on par with Harry Truman’s victory over Thomas Dewey in 1948.

As Trump and Clinton try to energize their base and mop up as many votes as possible, attention is increasingly turning to the political landscape after the election.

The Nov 8 polls will not only decide who wins the White House, but the scale of the new president’s mandate and who controls Congress.

PTI believes in ‘solo flight’  

LAHORE: Showing scant regard to the concerns of its allies regarding taking them into confidence in its decision to call off the Nov 2 Islamabad ‘lockdown’, a Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf senior leader says his party believes in ‘solo flight’ and it cannot be dictated by ‘small’ parties.

“We did solo flight and continue doing so as the small (allied) parties cannot dictate us,” Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Mahmoodur Rasheed told Dawn here on Thursday.

He said the PTI took its own decision and as far as its allies in the Panamagate protest were concerned, the PTI had stood by the members of its allies arrested by police.

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Allies say they should have been taken on board before calling off protest

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Mr Rashid’s ‘hard’ stance on PTI’s allies has come in the backdrop of exchange of harsh words between PAT leader Khurram Nawaz Gandapur and PTI information secretary Naeemul Haq outside the Supreme Court building, Islamabad.

The PTI leadership especially its chief Imran Khan faced criticism from party workers for calling off the Nov 2 protest ‘abruptly’. Earlier, both PML-Q and PAT had refused to participate in PTI’s Raiwind rally despite efforts of Imran to woo them.

PML-Q information secretary Kamil Ali Agha said although the PTI had taken the decision to call off the Nov 2 protest on its own, “it should consult its allies in the future.”

Talking to this reporter, Mr Agha claimed more than 800 PML-Q workers were arrested as they were at the forefront of the Panamagate protest. “We have no objection to PTI’s decision to call off the protest. But we have a reservation that PTI should have taken its allied parties into confidence before making the final decision.”

The PML-Q Senator said the Supreme Court had taken up this challenge which it should have done six months ago. “Now it is hoped that the Panama Leaks case will meet its logical end,” Mr Agha said.

Dr Tahirul Qadri’s PAT said it had no objection to PTI’s ‘solo flight and it would always be its ‘natural ally’ against the PML-N. “In the future the PAT will not join any PTI protest drive mere on courtesy call. We will go along with PTI in the future only after entering into some kind of written code of conduct,” PAT spokesman Noorullah Siddiqui told this reporter.

Mr Siddiqui admitted that relations between PAT and PTI had soured and any ‘joint venture’ in near future was not in sight.

Earlier, Dr Qadri had expressed his disappointment over Imran Khan’s ‘sudden’ decision to call off the protest and said “one should now only pray for the success of Panama probe because for all practical purposes it has been lost in the mist of commission formation and proceedings.

Liars cannot lead a nation.

 Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told a charged crowd in Kahuta on Friday, days after the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) planned 'lockdown' of Islamabad on Nov 2 turned into a 'thanksgiving' rally.

"Someone who lies to you continuously cannot represent you," he said.

"They say 'Pakistan is progressing'," he said in a veiled reference to the opposition. "They know that gas and electricity are coming to these areas, that a two-lane expressway is being built. That's why they are posing obstacles, so that progress is halted and Pakistan is taken back to 50 years ago."

"The ones who hold rallies, their agenda is not one of success."

"The ones who try to stop progress, you will not let their designs succeed. You have halted their designs. You have shown them their true reflection. You already saw what happened a few days ago," he said referring to the PTI's planned Nov 2 'lockdown' which it vowed to continue until the PM resigned or presented himself for accountability amid allegations of corruption following Panamagate.

The PTI and the government have locked horns since the names of members of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's family appeared in the Panama Papers and the political atmosphere in the capital had heated up as the date of the protest drew closer.

Only after the Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the government and opposition to submit their Terms of Reference for formation of a judicial commission to probe Panamagate did tensions in the capital begin to diffuse.

"I do not wish to say anything, I am keeping my tongue in check. But you are aware of what expectations they had and what the outcome was," the premier said.

"We are hard at work... No one can point accusatory fingers at us. You have three and a half years of our work before you," Nawaz said today.

"The election is going to happen in 2018, but you are cheering for me now. And this is precisely what our opponents cannot stomach," the prime minister said.

"I also love you. I love you too," the PM said, in an oft-repeated endearment.

The prime minister encouraged others to join hands with the party for progress and development in Pakistan.

During his address, the prime minister announced several development projects promising that work on them would be initiated soon.

"I didn't come here empty-handed today. The regular development programmes will continue. This is only the beginning. There will be bigger things in the future," he promised.

He announced that the Rawalpindi-Kahuta road overhead bridge will be turned into a highway, and that all union councils in Kahuta and Kallar Sayidan would receive electricity and gas.

The premier also promised to convert the Kahuta Tehsil Hospital into a state-of-the-art hospital, relieving residents of the need to travel to Rawalpindi or Islamabad for treatment.

He announced that 12 high schools will be converted into higher secondary schools, especially for the education of girls.

"Girls often have to travel far to attend school. We want to bring schools to your doorsteps," he said, adding, "This development will bring a wave of progress in the region."

"It won't be long before a university is built here," he added.

Funds will also be invested into the development of 100 kilometres of roads in Kahuta and Kallar Sayidan, PM Nawaz said.

"This is your money, it should be used for your betterment. It is not my money."

"We will make this place beautiful," he said, in a bid to encourage tourism to the area.

"Thousands of people visited Murree, Naran, Kaghan," he said. "They should come here too."

The Prime Minister said that he has raised the Kashmir issue at the United Nations General Assembly for the past three years, adding that he "Will continue to speak about it. we are not afraid of anyone."