In a bid to ease tensions between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its major coalition partner, the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari have agreed to continue negotiations at the committee level.

This decision came during a meeting on Thursday where both leaders sought to address and resolve existing grievances.

During the meeting, a PPP delegation led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

He expressed concerns over the non-implementation of the power-sharing agreement, highlighting issues such as the PPP’s limited influence in Punjab and lack of administrative positions and funds. He also pointed out that significant development projects in Sindh were overlooked in the federal budget.

The Prime Minister assured the PPP chairman of addressing all concerns and promised to eliminate any doubts and complaints.

The meeting was attended by key officials, including Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Information and Broadcasting Minister Ataullah Tarar.

Declaration

According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, the meeting was held in a positive atmosphere. Shehbaz Sharif noted the positive economic indicators, citing the stock market's historic performance as a sign of the business community's confidence in the budget. He emphasized the importance of all political parties working together for the country's development and the welfare of its people.

To further strengthen relations, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosted a dinner in honor of the PPP delegation.

Inside story

Inside sources revealed that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari voiced his concerns about the unmet promises made during the formation of the government. He specifically mentioned the PPP's challenges in Punjab and the neglect of Sindh's major development projects in the federal budget.

In response, the Prime Minister pledged to form committees to resolve these issues. These committees, comprising members from both the PPP and PML-N, are set to meet today to discuss and move forward with the resolution of these matters.