PM strikes conciliatory tone
Holds out an olive branch to opposition
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended an invitation to the opposition on Thursday to engage in constructive dialogue, emphasizing the government's readiness for meaningful talks to strengthen Pakistan's economy and democracy. Addressing a meeting of the federal cabinet, Sharif said that resolving matters through dialogue was crucial for the country's development.
He noted that the government had reduced the price of diesel by Rs32 per litre, a move he described as a welcome development, and pledged to provide relief to ordinary citizens through savings. Sharif acknowledged that recent geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, had created difficulties for energy supplies and forced the closure of refineries and gas plants in several countries, affecting Pakistan as a major energy importer.
The government had immediately responded to the crisis by cutting Rs128 billion from the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) to shield the public from rising petroleum prices. He expressed hope that the situation would improve and credited recent economic reforms introduced over the past two-and-a-half years for gradually yielding results.
Sharif also announced the launch of an application for retailers and assured the business community that their input had been sought during the formulation of the measures. He praised the performance of the finance minister and their team, highlighting a new scheme for traders as a significant achievement. Additionally, Sharif mentioned that Pakistan's IT exports had increased by 18 percent in July 2026, a proud moment for the country.
He expressed gratitude to the federal minister for information technology and his team for this accomplishment. Furthermore, Sharif mentioned that a Google delegation was currently visiting Pakistan and that he had recently met its representatives, praising the inauguration of a Google office in the country. He reiterated his invitation to the opposition, emphasizing the government's commitment to working together through dialogue to enhance economic development and strengthen democracy.
Written by urgent.news from The Express Tribune - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
