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Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has given the government a green signal to pass the federal budget after the two sides agreed on most proposals during a high-level meeting at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Monday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by federal ministers, met President Asif Ali Zardari at the presidency, where both sides resolved outstanding budget differences.
Sources said technical committees would continue consultations on certain remaining points.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Law Minister Azam Nazir, the finance minister and political adviser Rana Sanaullah.
PPP was represented by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Senator Sherry Rehman, Naveed Qamar, Saleem Mandviwala and Ahad Cheema, among others. AJK Prime Minister Faisal Rathore and MNA Raja Pervez Ashraf also attended.
Discussions covered national security, the economy, the budget, Gilgit-Baltistan elections, the situation in Azad Kashmir, law and order and other matters of national importance.
President Zardari stressed that the budget should prioritise public welfare, provincial rights and economic stability. Interior Minister Naqvi briefed the president on his recent visit to Iran and diplomatic contacts.
The budget presentation — previously scheduled for June 10 — was postponed following high-level consultations.
The finance ministry is expected to announce a new date later in the evening.
Earlier, PM Shehbaz met Bilawal Bhutto at the PM House, where the two held detailed talks on the political and administrative situation in Azad Kashmir.
Bilawal briefed the prime minister on public sentiment and ground realities in the territory.
The government made clear that peace, stability and rule of law were non-negotiable, and that a firm policy on maintaining order would continue.
Bilawal urged that all issues be resolved through political dialogue and parliamentary means.
On a lighter note, PM Shehbaz congratulated President Zardari on PPP’s victory in the Gilgit-Baltistan elections, remarking with a smile that the young Bilawal had run a better campaign than his own party. President Zardari smiled back and replied: “After all, whose son is he!”
