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.