ISLAMABAD, Aug 9: President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi approved the summary for dissolving the National Assembly (NA or lower house of parliament) on Wednesday midnight at the advice of outgoing Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif to end the government tenure. The President House issued a notification for the dissolution of the NA under Article 58 of the Constitution. The end of tenure for the government now binds PM Sharif and Leader of the Opposition in NA to finalize the name for the caretaker PM within 3 days.

Earlier in the day, the outgoing PM Sharif chaired the final meeting of the federal cabinet here in capital city of Islamabad. In his final speech to the NA, the premier said that the government faced several challenges and difficulties during its 16-month-long brief tenure. He concluded his speech by thanking lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for electing him as the PM, showing confidence in him and supporting him throughout his tenure at the helm. (KUNA)