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PM, BILAWAL DISCUSS BUDGET, DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND REGIONAL SITUATION Thursday, 18 June, 2026 | 2 Muharram, 1448
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BILAWAL MEETS PM SHEHBAZ TO DISCUSS NATIONAL AND POLITICAL ISSUES
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ISLAMABAD Mian abrar
RIME MINISTER Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday held separate meetings with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and women parliamentarians of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), discussing national affairs, the federal budget, development initiatives and the prevailing regional situation. During a meeting at the Prime Minister’s House, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, accompanied by Senator Sherry Rehman and MNA Syed Naveed Qamar, exchanged views with the prime minister on issues of national importance, political developments and matters of mutual interest. According to an official statement, the two leaders reviewed the progress of federal development projects in Sindh and discussed measures to further strengthen cooperation between the federation and provinces. The meeting also focused on the federal budget for fiscal year 2026-27, with Prime Minister Shehbaz stressing that close coordination between federal and provincial governments was indispensable for national development and economic progress. Both leaders agreed that sustained collaboration among federal and provincial institutions was essential for the timely completion of projects of national significance and for improving public services and facilities. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari paid tribute to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts aimed at pro-
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PRIME MINISTER SAYS PEACE ESSENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
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WOMEN PARLIAMENTARIANS PRAISED FOR ACTIVE BUDGET PARTICIPATION
FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL COOPERATION KEY TO DEVELOPMENT, LEADERS AGREE
moting peace amid the evolving situation in the Middle East. The PPP chairman also thanked the prime minister for his support during the government formation process in Gilgit-Baltistan. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema attended the meeting. Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met women parliamentarians belonging to the PML-N and appreciated their active participation in the ongoing budget session. Addressing the gathering, the prime minister said the positive economic impact of the government’s policies would reach the people once lasting peace was restored in the region. “Regional peace and stability are essential for economic growth and prosperity,” he said, adding that improved conditions would create greater opportunities for public relief and development.
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The prime minister noted that the government had made every effort to provide maximum relief to citizens in the Budget 2026-27 and had proposed several initiatives aimed at empowering women and enhancing their participation in national development. He reiterated that women’s empowerment remained one of the government’s foremost priorities. Referring to recent regional developments, Shehbaz Sharif said tensions had subsided and peace efforts had succeeded due to the collective endeavours of Pakistan’s leadership and institutions. He expressed gratitude to friendly countries for supporting peace initiatives and acknowledged the contributions of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and other members of the government team in promoting regional stability. The prime minister said the government had worked tirelessly over recent months to shield citizens
from the effects of global inflation and economic uncertainty. “By the grace of Allah, unlike some countries in the region, Pakistan did not face any crisis or long queues for fuel,” he remarked. He highlighted that the government had provided Rs128 billion in subsidies and launched a broad austerity campaign to ease the burden on the public, while ensuring economic stability through close coordination between federal and provincial governments. The prime minister also paid tribute to the people of Pakistan for their cooperation and resilience during challenging economic circumstances. He said the government had presented a people-friendly budget designed to accelerate industrial activity and promote an export-led economy. According to the prime minister, next year’s budget places special emphasis on expanding water reservoirs, information technology, agriculture and the minerals sector to strengthen Pakistan’s economic foundations. “These achievements are the result of the collective efforts of Team Pakistan,” he said, expressing confidence that the country would continue its journey towards becoming a developed nation. The women parliamentarians praised the prime minister’s efforts to promote peace at both regional and global levels and lauded the government for incorporating measures in the budget aimed at women’s empowerment and equal opportunities. They also presented recommendations regarding public welfare projects in their constituencies and offered suggestions relating to education, healthcare, youth employment, industry, communications and food security.
Pakistan facilitating repatriation of 30 Iranian nationals: Dar ISLAMABAD
Staff report
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Wednesday announced that Pakistan is facilitating the repatriation of 30 Iranian nationals, reaffirming the country’s commitment to humanitarian cooperation and regional goodwill. In a statement shared on social media platform X, Dar said the group comprises eight Iranian fishermen rescued at sea by a British vessel and 22 Iranian crew members from a sanctioned oil tanker that had recently been interdicted by United States authorities. “Pakistan is pleased to facilitate the repatriation of 30 Iranian nationals,” the deputy prime minister said. He explained that the eight fishermen were rescued by the British vessel MMA Valour after their boat ran aground, while the remaining 22 individuals were crew members of the vessel Lenore, also known as Davina. According to Dar, both groups are expected to transit through Karachi in the coming days before returning to Iran. “We remain in close coordination with the Iranian, United States and United Kingdom authorities to ensure the safe transit and early return of our Iranian brethren to their homeland,” he said. The foreign minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to extending every possible assistance on humanitarian grounds. “Pakistan remains committed to humanitarian cooperation and to extending every possible assistance to our Iranian brothers,” he added. Earlier this month, the United States military conducted an interdiction operation involving the sanctioned oil tanker Davina in the Indian Ocean. The vessel, also known as Lenore, was placed under US sanctions in October 2024 over allegations related to Iranian oil trade. Shipping data indicated that the supertanker, capable of carrying up to two million barrels of crude oil, was nearly fully loaded at the time of the operation. The latest development comes amid Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic engagement between Iran and the United States and follows earlier confidence-building measures undertaken by Islamabad. In May, Pakistan facilitated the return of crew members from another Iranian vessel seized by US authorities. The group, comprising 22 crew members, was transferred to Pakistan before being repatriated. At the time, the Foreign Office described the move as part of broader confidence-building measures aimed at promoting trust and humanitarian cooperation among the parties involved.