Russian oil $15 cheaper than global market: Shehbaz

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has disclosed that the recently imported crude oil from Russia was $15 dollar cheaper than the prevailing global market rates.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of several development projects in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Sharif accused the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government of wasting the nation’s time with lies and propaganda.

He said that the current government effectively exposed the lies propagated by the previous regime, highlighting his successful resolution of the issue related to purchasing oil from Russia. According to him, the imported oil from Russia was a staggering $15 cheaper than the prevailing global market rates.

He criticized their (PTI’s) mishandling of the economy, saying that they broke agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and caused irreparable damage to the country.

Prime Minister Shehbaz claimed that his government had taken significant strides towards completing various closed development projects.

The prime minister challenged PTI chief Imran Khan to present concrete evidence of corruption against him. Sharif asked Imran Khan to approach courts and prove his innocence if allegations against him were unfounded.

PM Shehbaz vowed to protect the honour of martyrs, asserting that no one would dare disrespectin their memorials. He passionately extolled the importance of remembering and honouring their fallen heroes.

He emphasized that political stability was contingent upon economic stability.

Further demonstrating his dedication to empowering the youth, the prime minister announced the distribution of 100,000 laptops to deserving students in July, as promised in the budget. Emphasizing a merit-based selection process, he assured that the laptops would be allocated on merit. He pledged to distribute hundreds of thousands of laptops in the following year.

Sharif also underscored his government’s commitment to providing loans and reducing duties for young entrepreneurs, with a strong focus on skill development. He expressed his resolve to include Pakistan’s younger generation in the development process.

The Seventh Avenue overhead bridge on the Srinagar Highway and the reconstructed IJP Road (now Captain Sher Khan Shaheed Road) were among the projects inaugurated by the prime minister.