Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced Rs 28 billion relief package for the poor segment of the society.

He made this announcement in his first address to the nation on Friday.

He further said that this was an additional package besides Benazir Support Programme.

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He said that poor families would receive Rs2000 every month, adding that this package would also be included in the next budget.

He said that when the PML-N and its allies held the reins of the government, they found everywhere destruction as the previous government had destroyed every sector.

The prime minister claimed that it was not easy to tackle the challenges which the previous government had left and the situation was gloomy.

Shehbaz said that it is an honour for him to be elected as the prime minister at a testing time. He said that it was inevitable to prevent the country from the serious consequences of the wrong measures adopted in the last four years.

“I would like to thank my leader Nawaz Sharif and the leaders of our allied parties for trusting me with this office,” he said.

He said that they accepted the challenge to save Pakistan from the serious outcomes of the disastrous moves of the previous government.

He criticised former prime minister Imran Khan for hitting the interests of Pakistan.

He recalled that the previous government had signed the agreement with the IMF, not the PML-N.

“We did not sign agreement with the IMF; you burdened the masses with heavy inflation, not us; you buried the country under heavy debts, not us; international institutions said that corruption increased during your tenure, not ours; electricity load shedding was brought back during your tenure and you are responsible for the economy’s suffering,” he claimed.

He said that they were ready to make tough decisions for the betterment of Pakistan, adding that they would do everything for the progress of the country.

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He further said that the government had increased the POL products’ prices with heavy heart as the prices were on the rise in the international market and every country even oil-producing country was raising the rates of POL products

It was the demand of the people of Pakistan to rid them of the previous incompetent and corrupt government, he asserted.

He held the PTI government responsible for every difficulty and problem, the country and people were facing right now.

He said that Imran’s stubbornness was not superior to the sanctity of constitutional institutions.

PM Shehbaz recalled that a so-called letter was used for political gains and misguiding the nation about a foreign conspiracy despite the National Security Committee (NSC) had rejected the entire story of the alleged conspiracy of the US-sponsored regime change twice.

Imran Khan has repeatedly blamed the US for backing the no-confidence motion, causing his ouster, and he was refusing to accept the newly-elected government.

He recalled that this person (Imran Khan) had staged sit-in when Chinese President Xi Jinping had to come to Pakistan but due to his arrogance, the agreement was delayed.

The premier stressed that the incumbent government was responsible for the nation’s safety and security and would not compromise in this regard at any cost.

He said that over the last four years, Pakistan incurred more than $20,000 billion worth of debt, which was more than 80% of the total loans taken during the history of the country.

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