A screengrab of PM Abbasi receiving a guard of honour at the PM House on Thursday

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi officially took charge as the country's premier on Thursday. 

When he arrived at the PM House, Abbasi was given a guard of honour by a contingent of the armed forces. 

Abbasi was sworn-in as prime minister on Tuesday after garnering 221 votes out of the total 339 in the National Assembly. 

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday after attending a consultative meeting with PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and party leaders in Murree, Abbasi said they want to convey to the world that prime minister of the country can change, but policies remain the same.

PM Abbasi addressing the media in Murree on Wednesday. Photo: APP

 

The premier said the party chief directed them to swiftly complete all ongoing projects.

"Nawaz Sharif directed to continue the policies of the previous cabinet, with focus on ongoing development programmes such as CPEC, investment schemes, construction of dams and power projects, motorway, and to expedite them, so that we may show the world that the prime minister can change but policies remain the same," Abbasi said.

Responding to journalists' queries about the new cabinet, he said consultations were ongoing and would continue over the next few days after which the cabinet would be sworn in.

The new cabinet was initially supposed to be sworn in on Wednesday, but the oath-taking was postponed in the afternoon.