PM strikes conciliatory tone

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday once again invited the opposition to the negotiating table, saying the government was ready for meaningful talks but it was now up to the opposition to decide how quickly it was prepared to engage in constructive dialogue to strengthen Pakistan’s economy and democracy. Addressing a meeting of the federal cabinet, the prime minister said matters would have to be resolved through dialogue to strengthen the country’s economic development and democratic system. “Both hands are needed to clap. Now it is up to the opposition how soon it is ready for constructive dialogue,” he said. The prime minister said the Ministry of Petroleum had succeeded in reducing the price of diesel by Rs32 per litre, saying the reduction was a welcome development. He said the government would provide relief to ordinary citizens wherever possible by making savings. He said the situation in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz had created difficulties not only for petroleum supplies but had also forced the closure of refineries and gas plants in several countries. “The entire region is going through a very difficult situation, and Pakistan is also affected because our country is a major energy buyer,” he said. Shehbaz said the government had immediately responded after the war began by imposing a Rs128 billion cut on the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) to provide funds to shield the public from sharply rising petroleum prices. He said the government had taken immediate measures to protect ordinary citizens and the provinces had also played their part. The prime minister expressed hope that the situation would improve in the coming days, saying Pakistan’s efforts would bear fruit. “We are trying to reduce tensions,” he said, adding that the measures taken by the government over the past two-and-a-half years to improve the economy were gradually beginning to produce results. He said a return to normalcy in the security situation was essential for the process. The prime minister also said the government had launched an application for retailers the previous day and expressed hope that the business community, whose input had been sought while formulating the measures, would be satisfied. He said the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had been given clear instructions to formulate plans in consultation with traders and warned that anyone attempting to harass them would be held accountable. Shehbaz praised the performance of the finance minister, minister of state for finance and their team, saying the government had introduced a good scheme for traders for the first time. The prime minister said Pakistan’s IT exports were gradually increasing, registering an 18 per cent rise in July 2026. “This is a great achievement, for which I congratulate the federal minister for information technology and his team,” he said. He said a Google delegation was currently visiting Pakistan and that he had met its representatives two days earlier. The prime minister said Google’s office in Pakistan had also been inaugurated, adding that the government was taking steps towards digitalisation in every sector. “The entire system of governance should be digital,” he said. Renewing his offer to the opposition, Shehbaz said he had already extended the invitation in the National Assembly as well as before the cabinet. “I want to repeat today that we are ready. From this forum, I invite the opposition to come and sit with us and resolve matters through dialogue so that we can strengthen Pakistan’s economic development and democracy,” he said.