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PM PRAises PRoviNCes’ sUPPoRt As NeC APPRoves Rs3.66tR UPLiFt oUtLAy Thursday, 11 June, 2026 | 25 ZilHaj, 1447
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PREMIER SHEHBAZ SAYS REGIONAL SITUATION HAD SHARPLY PUSHED UP OIL PRICES, PUSHING GOVT TO PROVIDE RS128B IN RELIEF TO PUBLIC
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SAYS CENTRE CONSULTED PROVINCES FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AHEAD OF THE UPCOMING BUDGET AS DISCUSSIONS COVERED GENERATING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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REFERRING TO IMF PROGRAMME, PM SAYS GOVT HAD SOUGHT TO STAY COMMITTED TO IT DESPITE MULTIPLE CHALLENGES
TERMS RESOURCES FOR DEFENCE IN BUDGET A PRIORITY, SAYING ADDITIONAL ALLOCATIONS NEEDED TO CONFRONT TERRORISM
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RIME MINISTER Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday commended the provinces for cooperating with the federal government in tackling economic difficulties, telling a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) that Pakistan had attained macroeconomic stability through collective efforts. Addressing the council, the prime minister said the federal government had taken decisions as a team in what it considered the country’s best interest. He said the economy had faced major challenges but had still reached macroeconomic stability. The prime minister said the regional
situation had sharply pushed up oil prices and added that the government had provided Rs128 billion in relief to the public on fuel prices. He said that while petrol stations in several countries had seen long queues, timely steps had ensured uninterrupted fuel availability for consumers in Pakistan. Shehbaz Sharif also acknowledged what he described as the full cooperation of provincial governments in responding to economic pressures. He said the centre had remained in consultation with the provinces for several weeks ahead of the upcoming budget and that these discussions had also covered ways to generate additional resources, which he described as a key government priority.
Govt renews dialogue offer as Achakzai warns of National Assembly boycott
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction over the poor performance of students in a nationwide skills competency test, directing a comprehensive review of information technology education in Pakistani universities along with a third-party audit of IT education and training programmes being offered across the country. Chairing a high-level meeting on higher education in the IT sector, the prime minister said IT education and training in universities must be aligned with international market demands and emerging technologies, according to a Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) news release. “Young people must be equipped with skills that meet global industry requirements,” the prime minister said,
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The government on Wednesday again called on the opposition to sit down for talks on major national matters, while National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai warned of a possible boycott of the lower house over what he described as unfulfilled commitments. Speaking on the National Assembly floor, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar rejected opposition criticism of the government’s performance and invited its members to engage with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on issues of national importance. “I invited you on behalf of the government to come and sit together with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to consult on national issues,” Responding to the opposition’s demand that jailed PTI founder Imran Khan be allowed to meet other party leaders, the law minister said the Constitution did not permit a convicted person to lead a political party, distribute election tickets for legislative assemblies or take an active part in politics. On the recent elections in GilgitBaltistan, Tarar said the opposition would have to present evidence if it alleged rigging. He also told the House that the recent protest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir had the support of a neighbouring country.
OPPOSITION CRITICISM AND BOYCOTT WARNING: Earlier in the sitting, opposition members said the government had failed to steer the country properly. Achakzai said the opposition had ended its earlier boycott at the government’s request in order to show unity during the visit of a Chinese delegation to the National Assembly last month. In May, the opposition had announced that it would boycott the budget session in protest against what it said was the denial of medical care to the former prime minister.
SUPPORT FOR PAKISTANIS DETAINED ABROAD: During question hour, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry told the House that Pakistani missions overseas had dedicated sections to assist Pakistani prisoners, including through legal and financial support aimed at safeguarding their welfare. He said mission officials made regular prison visits to check on detainees and hear complaints relating to food, medicines and hygiene, which were then taken up with the relevant jail authorities. Chaudhry said that whenever a Pakistani national was arrested by law enforcement agencies abroad, the date of arrest and the charges were communicated to Pakistani missions through the host government’s official channels. He said the missions compiled and maintained this information in a comprehensive databank.
adding that IT education in most universities was unfortunately not aligned with contemporary technological needs. The meeting was briefed on the results of the National Skills Competency Test recently conducted by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to evaluate the capabilities of IT graduates and assess whether university curricula were producing industry-relevant skills. According to the briefing, 33,038 students from 190 higher education institutions across the country participated in the test, which was conducted under strict monitoring and transparent procedures at designated centres nationwide, the PMO said. The results highlighted significant gaps in students’ competencies. Only 0.4 per cent of participants secured more than 80 per cent marks, while 3.6 per cent scored between 68 and 79 per cent.
All personnel martyred in Army Mi-17 crash near Muzaffarabad: ISPR
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVII No 77 | 8 Pages | Islamabad Edition
Pakistan Army said on Wednesday that an Mi-17 helicopter of Army Aviation crashed in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, killing all personnel on board, according to the military’s media wing. “No survivors were reported after an Mi-17 helicopter of Pakistan Army Aviation crashed near Muzaffarabad during take-off due to a technical fault,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. The ISPR confirmed that the aircraft went down during take-off “due to a technical fault,” adding that “all personnel on board embraced shahadat (martyrdom).” It did not specify the number of personnel aboard, but stated there were no survivors. Rescue and recovery teams immediately reached the crash site, while a board of inquiry has been ordered to determine the exact technical cause of the accident, the military’s media wing added. “A board of inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the exact technical cause of the accident,” the ISPR said. Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, along with all ranks of the Pakistan Army, expressed “deep grief over the tragic loss of precious lives and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” the statement added. The Mi-17 transport helicopter has been part of Pakistan Army Aviation since the late 1990s and is widely regarded as a reliable utility aircraft used
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for transport, logistics and operational support. It is typically crewed by three personnel and can carry up to 24 troops or four tonnes of cargo. Over the years, the United States has also assisted in refurbishing and overhauling 22 Mi-17 helicopters in Pakistan’s fleet.
HISTORY OF ARMY AVIATION HELICOPTER CRASHES: In September last year, an Army aviation helicopter crashed in Gilgit-Baltistan, killing all five personnel on board. In August 2025, a government helicopter carrying relief supplies to flood-hit Bajaur crashed due to bad weather, killing all five occupants. In September 2024, six people were killed in another crash attributed to engine failure in northwestern Pakistan. The second half of 2022 saw two separate helicopter crashes. On August 2, the wreckage of a Pakistan Army helicopter was found in Balochistan’s Lasbela district a day after it went missing, with all six personnel on board, including Commander 12 Corps Lieutenant General Sarfraz Ali, embracing martyrdom. The following month, six Army personnel, including two majors, were martyred when a helicopter crashed during a mission near Khost in Balochistan’s Harnai district. In December 2021, two pilots were killed when an Army aviation helicopter crashed at Siachen in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Ghanche district.
President calls Moscow 'trusted partner,' hails Putin’s role in Pakistan, Russia ties ISLAMABAD
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President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday said President Vladimir Putin has played a key role in bringing Pakistan and Russia closer, fostering a relationship based on mutual respect, trust and shared interests, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening its partnership with Moscow, which he described as a “trusted partner.” Addressing a reception held to mark the National Day of the Russian Federation, the president said Moscow was an important global power with whom Islamabad seeks deeper cooperation across diverse fields, according to a statement issued by the President’s Office. On the occasion, President Zardari extended warm felicitations to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Ambassador Albert P. Khorev and the people of Russia on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan, noting that the National Day reflected Russia’s independence, rich history and the enduring spirit of its people. Recalling his visit to Russia in 2011, President Zardari acknowledged President Putin’s role in strengthening bilateral ties and promoting engagement based on mutual respect, trust and shared interests. He said Pakistan-Russia relations had steadily expanded over the years, adding that their foundations were strengthened by the vision and statesmanship of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who played a pivotal role in establishing ties with the former Soviet Union.
UK, Pakistan ink £35m Green Compact
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British High Commissioner Jane Marriott met Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Malik in Islamabad to discuss implementation of the Green Compact, a £35 million bilateral climate cooperation framework intended to strengthen Pakistan’s resilience to climate change, according to an official statement. During the meeting, Marriott presented the Green Compact’s action plan and outlined its main priorities as well as proposed areas for joint work. The statement said Malik stressed that the framework should be geared towards initiatives that produce concrete, high-impact benefits for people in Pakistan. FOCUS ON YOUTH AND GREEN INNOVATION: The minister also updated the British high commissioner on progress towards setting up a Green University in Islamabad. He said discussions were under way with international partners, including Italy, and with stakeholders linked to the Arctic Circle initiative. Malik also highlighted the creation of a Green Tech Hub at the National University of Sciences and Technology in partnership with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination. According to the statement, the initiative is designed to support young entrepreneurs working on green technologies and sustainable business solutions. The minister said young people should be enabled not only in green entrepreneurship but also in research and innovation capable of producing practical and scalable responses to environmental and climate-related challenges.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RESILIENCE: Marriott also briefed Malik on the United Kingdom’s youth entrepreneurship programmes and ongoing projects being carried out in Pakistan with the British High Commission, particularly initiatives centred on climate resilience and green solutions.
Budget to be presented on June 12 as govt finalises fiscal framework after key consensus ISLAMABAD
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Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will present the federal budget for fiscal year 2026-27 in the National Assembly on June 12, following the completion of consultations with coalition partners and provinces on key fiscal matters. The revised budget schedule was confirmed by Adviser to the Finance Minister Khurram Schehzad, who announced that the Pakistan Economic Survey 2025-26 would be unveiled by the finance minister at 2:20pm on June 11, ahead of the formal budget presentation. President Asif Ali Zardari has already summoned sessions of both the National Assembly and Senate for the budget proceedings. The announcement came after the National Economic Council (NEC), the country's highest economic decisionmaking body, met on Wednesday under
the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to finalise federal and provincial development plans for the upcoming fiscal year. Addressing the meeting, the prime minister said the federal government had conducted extensive consultations with provincial governments and made decisions in the broader national interest. The NEC meeting was finally held after being postponed three times due to prolonged negotiations over provincial shares under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. The budget, originally scheduled to be presented on June 10, was delayed as the federal government, coalition partners and provinces sought consensus on the Centre's demand for additional fiscal space exceeding Rs1 trillion to meet strategic and development requirements. A breakthrough was achieved earlier this week when the ruling PML-N and its key coalition partner, the PPP, reached an understanding on the broad
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contours of the federal budget. The two sides agreed on expenditure rationalisation across federal and provincial levels to address an estimated revenue shortfall of around Rs800 billion this year and create additional fiscal space for next year's requirements. According to informed sources, provincial shares from the federal divisible pool are expected to remain frozen
at the current fiscal year's level, while any increase in Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collections beyond this year's base will be retained by the federal government. The additional fiscal space generated through this arrangement could range between Rs1.3 trillion and Rs1.7 trillion, depending on revenue performance. However, sources said that Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had not yet fully endorsed the arrangement. Under the proposed development framework, the government plans to unveil a record national development programme worth Rs4.715 trillion despite fiscal constraints and close oversight by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The development portfolio includes provincial Annual Development Programmes (ADPs) amounting to Rs3.138 trillion, reflecting a 9.6 per cent increase over the current year.
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