Prime Minister Imran Khan has defended the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) ordinance, calling it essential to control the "filth that floods social media in Pakistan" during his televised address to the nation Monday.

The address, which was initially expected to be broadcast at 6pm, started at 7:15pm in which the premier discussed the economic impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the prevailing global challenges.

Earlier in the day, he also met Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa in a one-on-meeting Monday, in which he was apprised of the situation at the border, briefing on security and key national issues, reported Aaj News.

The development regarding the address to the nation was shared by Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry in a tweet.

The premier’s address comes after his two-day trip to Russia when the nuclear power was invading its neighbouring country Ukraine. During his Moscow trip, PM Imran met Russian President Vladimir Putin and called for dialogue in resolving the conflict while highlighting that developing countries have to bear the brunt of such escalation.

As per media reports, the government was set to further increase the petrol prices by Rs10 after it increased it by a whopping Rs12 earlier this month, receiving flak from the opposition and the public for releasing a “petrol bomb”.

In addition to this, the government had also hinted at the increase of fuel and wheat prices if Russia and Ukraine went to war, as both countries are one of the biggest importers of such facilities.

Later, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the premier would make a “big announcement” in his address to the nation at 6pm.

“PM Imran Khan is aware of the people’s difficulties and hardships,” he said while talking to reporters in Jacobabad. The foreign minister is leading a protest in Sindh against the PPP.

He added that PM Imran was aware of the PPP protest, which started on Sunday, against the government. FM Qureshi reiterated his call for a debate between PM Imran and former president Asif Ali Zardari on the performance of the Centre over the last three years and the PPP over the last 15 years in Sindh.

Reacting to the development, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb claimed that the premier in his address would waste the nation’s time.

“Apologise for your false promises to the nation and false accusations levelled at your political opponents? Because the reduction in inflation, 5 million houses, 10 million jobs and the announcement that the IMF will not go are not possible now. I pray that this will be the last speech in order to get rid of the constant mental anguish of inflation and unemployment,” she said in a series of tweets.