Islamabad, Mar 4: Shahbaz Sharif took the oath as the 24th elected prime minister of Pakistan during a ceremony held at the President’s House on Monday afternoon, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

President Arif Alvi administered the oath of office to the newly-elected prime minister at the ceremony attended by the outgoing caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, Chairman of Senate Sadiq Sanjrani, chief of the army, politicians and ambassadors.

Earlier on Sunday, Sharif, president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, got 201 votes against 92 in the 336-member National Assembly, or the lower house of parliament, during an election for the post.

Sharif came to power after his party formed an alliance with Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and others, and nominated him as their candidate for the country’s chief executive post.

In his maiden address to the National Assembly after being elected as the prime minister on Sunday, Sharif said he would focus on economic reforms for the country’s development, including improving the taxation system and establishing free trade zones and export zones.

The prime minister added that his government would extend and promote the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor for the country’s development.

UNI