- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government agrees to PPP’s demands over Punjab governance and Budget 2024-25.
- Agreement reached after a negotiation session in Islamabad between PML-N and PPP leaders.
- The resolution aims to ensure smooth passage of the upcoming budget and address development and administrative issues in Punjab.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s federal government agreed on Sunday to all the demands put forward by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) regarding governance issues in Punjab and the upcoming Budget 2024-25. This decision followed an intense negotiation session held in Islamabad between the negotiation committees of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and PPP.
The PPP had raised concerns about the distribution of development funds and administrative appointments in Punjab. The federal government has now agreed to address these grievances. The breakthrough came after a meeting attended by key figures from both parties, including Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Ali Haider Gilani, Nadeem Afzal Chan, and Hasan Murtaza from PPP, and Malik Ahmed Khan, Rana Sanaullah, and Khawaja Saad Rafique from PML-N.
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 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, which had previously been 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 budget approval and other legislative processes due to a fragmented mandate from the recent elections.
Sources revealed 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.