Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appeased the coalition partner, Pakistan Peoples Party, over the federal budget as the two sides agree to not interfere with the International Monetary Fund conditions, sources said on Thursday.

They added that the Sindh-ruling party would cooperate with the government on the budget.

This came during a meeting between a PPP delegation led by party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the government’s delegation.

Bilawal was accompanied by Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Khursheed Shah, Naveed Qamar, and Sherry Rehman.

The government delegation comprised National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, PM’s aide on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and State Minister for Finance Ali Pervaiz Malik.

The inside story of the meeting revealed that Bilawal raised the issue of not taking the PPP into confidence on the federal budget. He also presented the party’s ‘Charter of Demand’ to the premier.

The PPP demanded that the government allocate more funds for development projects under the PSDP.

Bilawal informed PM Shehbaz that the PPP had supported the government based on an “agreement,” but the government has not upheld its end of the deal.

He claimed that the Punjab government was obstructing the paths of the PPP in the province. The premier has assured the PPP chief that he would address the concerns regarding the provincial government.

PM Shehbaz agreed with most of Bilawal’s points and committees have been formed to resolve the issues. The committees of the two sides would meet on Friday (tomorrow) to further the discussions.

He has also assured the party of resolving its demands related to Sindh.

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In a statement released after the meeting, it was mentioned that further consultation with the PPP regarding the budget 2024-25 took place.

According to the statement, the PM stated during the meeting that positive economic indicators are emerging and the bullish performance of the stock market was a “testament” to the business community’s endorsement of the budget. He emphasized that all political parties need to work together for the country’s progress, prosperity, and public welfare.

The prime Minister also said that measures have been taken in the new fiscal year’s budget to provide relief to the common people.