A high-level meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has resulted in broad agreement between the government and the Pakistan Peoples Party on key budget proposals. The development comes as consultations intensify ahead of the upcoming federal budget. Officials say most major fiscal points have been mutually accepted.
The meeting was held at the Presidency in Islamabad, where the prime minister led a government delegation that included senior cabinet members and finance officials. PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari headed his party’s delegation during the talks. The agenda included the federal budget and other pressing political and economic matters.
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According to sources, both sides agreed on the majority of each other’s budget recommendations. PPP also reportedly signalled support for the budget’s passage in parliament. However, officials said technical committees would continue work on certain outstanding issues.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated President Zardari on his party’s electoral performance in Gilgit-Baltistan. He also commented on the election campaign led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. President Zardari responded in a light exchange, reflecting a cordial tone during the discussions.
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The meeting also included the prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where the recent situation in the region was discussed. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of political coordination to ensure smooth approval of the federal budget.