Federal minister for finance Ishaq Dar on Tuesday said the process of appointment of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir went smooth and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif okayed the nomination of Gen Asim Munir by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. During an interview to a private news channel, he said government had plan B if president Dr Arif Alvi did not approve the summary.

Talking about Nawaz’s return to Pakistan, he said it was not possible to give an indication of his date of return adding the PML-N and its allies were desirous to see him back. Commenting on general elections, he said general elections would be held in October 2023 adding the constitution needed to be amended to conduct elections in time. Speaking about cheap petrol deal with Russia, he said the ban on buying cheap oil from Russia was revoked and the government would try its level best to buy oil at 30pc discount adding the price of petrol woud not be increased.

He said the country needed $16bn to put the economy back on track adding the government was meting the conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He further said Saudi Arabia and China had assured financial support to Pakistan to help with economic challenges.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP