ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Friday strongly condemned the Israeli cabinet’s decision to take illegal and illegitimate control of Gaza City, reiterating Pakistan unwavering support to the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, in line with the relevant UN and OIC resolutions.
In a statement on ‘X’, Shehbaz said the Israeli cabinet’s decision will escalate the already catastrophic war against Palestinians.
“We strongly condemn the Israeli cabinet’s approval of a plan to take illegal and illegitimate control of Gaza City. This amounts to a dangerous escalation in an already catastrophic war against the people of Palestine,” said the prime minister.
He noted that the expansion of military operations will only worsen the already existing humanitarian crisis and derail any prospect for peace in the region.
“We must not lose sight of the root cause of this ongoing tragedy: that is Israel’s prolonged, illegal occupation of Palestinian territory. As long as this occupation endures, peace will remain elusive,” the prime minister said.
He also reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, in line with the relevant UN and OIC resolutions. “We call upon the international community to intervene urgently to bring an immediate halt to Israel’s unwarranted aggression, ensure the protection of innocent civilians, and ensure the direly needed delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza,” the prime minister said.
Meanwhile, the prime minister appointed six members of the Rahmatul-Lil-Alameen Wa Khatamun Nabiyyin Authority (NRKNA) for three years.
According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, the appointment of members shall be in honorary capacity.
Eminent scholar Khurshid Nadeem is the Authority Chairman.
The members include Member-I (Seerat Scholar) Dr. Syed Azizur Rehman, Assistant Professor, Regional Dawah Center, Karachi; Member-II (Media Affair) Dr. Farooq Adil, Research, Author, Media Expert, Karachi; Member-III (Special Initiatives) Zafar Mahmood Malik, Director General-Secretary NRKNA, Islamabad; Member-IV (Research in Seerat and Religion) Professor Dr. Farkhanda Zia, member of Council of Islamic Ideology (CII); Member-V (Curricula) Allama Arif Hussain Wahidi, former member of CII; Member-VI (International outreach and equipped to provide counter-narrative to misconceptions of Islam and Islamophobia) Dr. Qibla Ayaz.
APP adds: Chairing a meeting to review the initiatives of the National Information Technology Board (NITB) and the Ministry of Information Technology, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday appreciated the achievement of the previous year’s IT export target of $3.8 billion by the Ministry of Information Technology and directed the formulation of a comprehensive action plan for annual targets and measures to surpass the $30 billion target in the coming years.
Shehbaz said the government was taking measures to advance its economy through digitization, aligning it with modern requirements.
Highlighting the introduction of complete digital ecosystem to achieve IT exports target of $30 billion, he directed the restructuring of NITB and the recruitment of the best talent from the market.
The prime minister appreciated the establishment of centers to make the youth, especially women, self-reliant in the IT sector for employment opportunities, as thousands of youth were securing respectable employment through the Digital Youth Hub and gaining the capability to compete internationally.
He observed that the implementation of E-Office had led to paperless governance in government offices, resulting in savings of both time and resources. During the briefing on the progress of the NITB’s restructuring and the initiatives of the Ministry of Information Technology, it was informed that in the financial year 2025, Pakistan’s IT sector exports achieved a 19% growth, surpassing the $3.8 billion target, while the number of freelancers in the country increased by 91%. It was told that under the National Incubation Center, 386 new startups were supported, 14 were sent to the global stage, and 40 e-employment centers were established in 26 cities across the country.
Four Pakistani teams were ranked among the top 50 globally at Black Hat MEA, and investment agreements and MoUs worth $700 million were signed. Moreover, approximately 315,000 students, including around 115,000 women, were provided with professional IT training to ensure equal opportunities for women in the IT sector.
Chairing a high-level meeting here at the Prime Minister’s House to review and strategize the promotion of tourism across Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for formulation of a comprehensive and actionable plan to enhance both domestic and international tourism while emphasizing the country’s vast untapped tourism potential, a Prime Minister’s Office news release said.
“Pakistan is immensely blessed by the nature. From snow-covered mountains and lush forests to rivers, deserts, and a vibrant coastline, our country holds a unique and significant place in the world,” the prime minister remarked.
Shehbaz stressed the importance of attracting tourists to scenic regions like Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, underlining the need for modern infrastructure, efficient transport connectivity, and high-standard recreational facilities. He directed authorities to swiftly draft an action plan for promoting tourism in Islamabad, AJK, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
INP adds: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Friday called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss the country’s political situation.
According to sources, the meeting also covered matters related to the power sharing arrangement between the PPP and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN).
Senator Sherry Rehman and First Lady Aseefa Bhutto also accompanied the PPP chairman during the meeting.
Bilawal Bhutto expressed condolences to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the death of his cousin Mian Shahid Shafi praying for the departed soul’s elevation and patience for the bereaved family.
The PPP chairman also called up the deceased’s elder brother Javed Shafi to offer his sympathies.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, and Prime Minister’s Advisor on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah.
Minister of State for Food Security Malik Rashid Ahmed, Minister of State for Power Division Abdul Rehman Kanju, Member National Assembly Saira Afzal Tarar, Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmed Khan and Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Talha Burki also attended the meeting.
