PM Shehbaz, cabinet members will not draw salaries

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and members of his federal cabinet have decided on Wednesday not to draw salaries or enjoy any perks as part of the government’s efforts to promote austerity, Aaj News reported.

This was decided in a meeting of the federal cabinet which was chaired by PM Shehbaz in Islamabad.

The cabinet discussed the overall economic and security situation of the country.

It took up different agenda items including the briefing on the staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the constitution of PIA Holding Company and others.

The development comes after President Asif Ali Zardari also decided not to draw his presidential salary.

“He took this decision to encourage prudent financial management in the country.

“The President considered it essential not to burden the national exchequer and preferred to forgo his salary,” President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release on Tuesday.

Pakistan carries out anti-terrorist operations inside Afghanistan, confirms FO

Meanwhile, addressing the cabinet today, PM Shehbaz said that the country will not tolerate any terrorism from across the border “under no circumstances”.

“Unfortunately, again, terrorism has reared its head. The reality is that despite such great sacrifices and resources expended, our martyrs and warriors are risking their lives to eliminate terrorism,” he said.

The premier’s statement comes after at least seven Pakistan Army soldiers embraced martyrdom on Saturday after terrorists attacked a security forces’ post in the general area Mir Ali of North Waziristan District.

On Tuesday, Pakistan carried out intelligence-based anti-terrorist operations in the border regions inside Afghanistan in response to multiple terrorist attacks in Pakistan which caused deaths of hundreds of civilians and law enforcement officials, the Foreign Office (FO) said.

“The prime target of today’s operation was the terrorists belonging to Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, which – along with Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – is responsible for multiple terrorist attacks inside Pakistan,” the FO said.