Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the recently signed Pakistan-Saudi Arabia-Türkiye Joint Defence Agreement will help promote peace, development and prosperity in the region.
Presiding over the Federal Cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Monday, he said the agreement, signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan and himself in Makkah, was an extension of the longstanding defence cooperation among the three countries.
Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan’s armed forces have long worked alongside Saudi forces to safeguard the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
He said the latest agreement is an extension of these arrangements and remained under discussion for several years before being finalized.
The Prime Minister congratulated Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for their untiring efforts in finalizing the agreement.
He emphasized that the objective of the agreement is not aggression against any country, but the promotion of peace, progress and prosperity.
Shehbaz Sharif also paid tribute to the security forces personnel martyred in recent terrorist attacks in different parts of the country, including Hangu and Swat.
He said the nation would always remember the sacrifices of Major Hafiz Ehsan Elahi, Captain Hamza Akram, DSP Diyar Khan and other martyrs, who laid down their lives for the defence of Pakistan.
The Prime Minister prayed for the martyrs and expressed sympathies with their families. He also expressed grief and sorrow over the death of his longtime political associate, Iqbal Channar of Bahawalpur.
Shehbaz Sharif said the Khawarij terrorists are being eliminated day and night, expressing the confidence that the sacrifices of the security personnel would not go in vain and bear fruit.
The Prime Minister said the day would come soon when Pakistan would once again be free from terrorism and move rapidly towards peace and development.
Talking about the elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister said PML-N has secured a clear majority in the elections held so far in Mirpur and Muzaffarabad, including the seats reserved for Kashmiris settled in Pakistan.
Thanking the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir for voting in favour of PML-N, Shehbaz Sharif expressed confidence that, under the leadership of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Azad Kashmir would witness a renewed journey of development and prosperity.
Referring to the recent unrest in Azad Kashmir, the Prime Minister said lawlessness could not be allowed and all issues should be resolved through dialogue.
He said those who deliberately disrupted the situation are acting at the behest of external elements.
Shehbaz Sharif said the government had convened an All Parties Conference in Muzaffarabad to discuss the issue of reserved seats. It was agreed that those seeking changes in the reserved seats should let the elections take place and present their case before the new assembly for resolution under the Constitution and law.
The Prime Minister said the new government would continue dialogue with those willing to resolve the issues peacefully, but would not allow anyone to create disorder.
Talking about the upcoming Independence Day, Shehbaz Sharif said the nation is preparing to celebrate Independence Day on August 14 with traditional enthusiasm.
He said the federal and provincial governments would also join the people to celebrate these festivities in a befitting manner.
