Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led federal government acceded on Sunday to all the demands put forward by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) over governance issues in Punjab and Budget 2024-25.
The decision was made during a meeting between the negotiation committees of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and PPP held in Islamabad.
The PPP had aired its grievances regarding the distribution of development funds and administrative appointments in Punjab, which the government has now agreed to address.
The breakthrough came after an intense negotiation session attended by key figures from both parties. The PPP delegation included Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Ali Haider Gilani, Nadeem Afzal Chan, and Hasan Murtaza, while the PML-N was represented by Malik Ahmed Khan, Rana Sanaullah, and Khawaja Saad Rafique, among others.
The discussions aimed to resolve ongoing issues and ensure the smooth passage of the upcoming budget for the fiscal year 2024-25.
Senior PPP leader Nadeem Afzal Chan, speaking to the media, highlighted the concerns in Punjab, including capacity issues and local body elections. He emphasized the PPP's commitment to non-revengeful governance and effective administration in the province.
The resolution of these issues is critical for the coalition government, especially with the budget session underway. PPP’s participation in the budget session, previously marred by a boycott, signals a positive shift.
This cooperation is vital for the PML-N-led coalition, which cannot afford to lose PPP's support for the budget approval and other legislative processes due to a fragmented mandate from the recent elections.
Sources said that the PPP's chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, is expected to address the assembly to discuss the budget details, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif likely to attend.
Despite these agreements, underlying tensions remain. The PML-N has previously accused the PPP of leveraging critical moments for undue gains, a sentiment echoed during the 20-month tenure of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) before the caretaker setup took charge.
