Nawaz Sharif calls for party's meet on May 20 to discuss policies

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, set to become Pakistan's next Prime Minister, has convened a meeting of party's lawmakers in Lahore on May 20 to brainstorm a plan of action for the first 100 days of the next government to deal with pressing problems including terrorism.

"The plan of action for the first 100 days, including steps to tackle the energy crisis, law and order situation and other challenges being faced by the country, will be discussed in the meeting," senior PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal said in Islamabad.

Besides at the centre, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is set to form government in Punjab and Balochistan provinces.

Sharif will preside over the meeting, which will also discuss matters related to the formation of governments at the centre and in the provinces, PML-N officials said.

The candidates for the post of Chief Minister of Punjab and Balochistan will be finalised during the meeting, they said.

The size of Sharif's cabinet will be small, Iqbal said. "It will enable the new government to minimise the use of precious national wealth and help the people in an efficient manner," he said.

According to one PML-N official, the names of members of the federal cabinet will be discussed at Monday's meeting and Sharif will take lawmakers into confidence in this regard.

The PML-N bagged 124 of the 272 directly elected seats in the National Assembly or lower house of parliament.

Some 20 lawmakers, including independent candidates and members of smaller parties, have either joined the PML-N or said they will back party, giving it a simple majority in the National Assembly.