PM Shehbaz again invites opposition to dialogue for strengthening democracy, economy

Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday renewed his call for the opposition to engage with the government through meaningful talks, stressing that political disputes must be settled through dialogue to help reinforce Pakistan’s economy and democratic institutions.

Presiding over a federal cabinet session, the prime minister said the government had repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to hold discussions with the opposition.

PM Shehbaz noted that he had conveyed the same message on the National Assembly floor and during cabinet meetings.

“I once again invite the opposition to come and sit together. Matters should be resolved through dialogue so that Pakistan’s economy and democracy can be further strengthened,” he said, leaving it to the opposition to determine how soon it wanted to participate in constructive talks.

The prime minister also welcomed the Rs32-per-litre cut in diesel prices, describing the development as especially important amid the continuing difficulties in the Gulf region and interruptions in international oil supplies.

PM Shehbaz commended the Petroleum Ministry and its officials for their role in achieving the reduction, observing that Pakistan’s dependence on imported energy made it particularly susceptible to disturbances in global supply chains.

Turning to the situation in the Gulf and the area surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, the premier said that international oil flows had been seriously affected, while several refineries and gas-processing facilities in various countries had been forced to suspend operations.

“The region is passing through a difficult time, and Pakistan, being a net importer of energy, is specifically affected by the situation,” he said.

He recalled that, after the conflict began, the federal government had set aside Rs128 billion as part of measures to keep oil prices under control. The provinces later joined the relief efforts by making their own contributions.

PM Shehbaz expressed optimism that the regional crisis would ease in the weeks ahead and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at lowering tensions and promoting stability.

The prime minister also drew attention to encouraging economic indicators, saying the steps taken by the government were beginning to show results. He stressed that the reforms and measures needed to continue in order to restore stability and normalcy to the economy.

While discussing the newly introduced application for retailers, he said the platform had been developed after consultations with representatives of the trading community.

PM Shehbaz directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to ensure traders were not subjected to unnecessary difficulties, pointing out that the business community had reached agreement on the issue.

He also congratulated the Ministry of IT and Telecommunications and its team on recording an 18 per cent increase in IT exports in July 2026. According to the prime minister, the rise represented an encouraging development for Pakistan’s digital sector.

PM Shehbaz also welcomed the opening of a Google office in Pakistan, saying the technology giant’s presence could play an important role in accelerating the country’s digital transformation.

He said the government was pursuing the digitisation of all departments and expressed hope that Google’s operations in Pakistan would further strengthen and facilitate those efforts.