Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reiterated the government’s willingness to hold meaningful talks with the opposition, urging political rivals to return to the negotiating table.
Addressing a meeting of the federal cabinet, the prime minister said he had previously made similar offers in both the National Assembly and cabinet meetings and that the government remained prepared to resolve political differences through dialogue.
“The ball is now in the opposition’s court,” Shehbaz said, adding that it was for the opposition to decide when it wished to resume negotiations.
He said resolving political disputes through talks would help strengthen economic development and the democratic system, maintaining that dialogue had consistently been the government’s preferred approach.
Turning to fuel prices, the prime minister praised the Ministry of Petroleum and said the government had arranged Rs128 billion in relief measures despite difficult economic circumstances. The funds were made available through reductions in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
Shehbaz also welcomed the Rs32-per-litre reduction in diesel prices, saying the government was seeking to provide as much relief as possible to ordinary citizens.
The prime minister noted that Pakistan remains heavily dependent on imported energy, leaving domestic prices vulnerable to international developments.
He added that the prevailing regional situation had disrupted energy supplies, with refineries and gas facilities in several countries shutting down, creating additional challenges for energy-importing economies such as Pakistan.