ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has once again invited the opposition to engage in meaningful dialogue, saying political issues should be resolved through talks to support Pakistan’s economic progress and democratic system.
Chairing a federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad, the prime minister said the government was ready for constructive engagement and had already extended similar offers in the National Assembly and the cabinet. Saying it takes two hands to clap, the premier said it was now up to the opposition to decide how soon it was prepared to enter into dialogue.
Discussing fuel prices, Shehbaz welcomed a reduction of Rs32 per litre in diesel prices, saying the government would continue seeking ways to provide relief to ordinary citizens.
He said the regional situation, particularly developments in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, had disrupted petroleum supplies and affected refineries and gas plants in several countries. Pakistan, as a major energy importer, was also facing the impact.
The prime minister said the government had allocated Rs128 billion by reducing the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) soon after the conflict began to protect people from a sharp rise in petroleum prices. He expressed hope that regional conditions would improve and said Pakistan was working to help reduce tensions.
Shehbaz said measures taken by the government over the past two and a half years were gradually producing results, while a return to normalcy in the security situation remained important for further economic improvement.
He also highlighted the launch of an app for retailers, saying the initiative had been developed in consultation with the business community. He directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to formulate plans in consultation with traders and warned that officials who harassed members of the business community would face consequences.
The prime minister praised the finance team for introducing what he described as a beneficial scheme for traders.
He further said Pakistan’s IT exports had increased by 18 percent in July 2026, calling the growth a major achievement and congratulating the IT ministry and its team.
Shehbaz also noted that a Google delegation was visiting Pakistan and said he had met its representatives two days earlier. He said Google’s office in Pakistan had been inaugurated and stressed that the government was working to promote digitalisation across all sectors, adding that the country’s governance system should be fully digitalised.
