Bilawal, PM discuss Sindh uplift projects

ISLAMABAD: Ahead of the June 19 scheduled signing of the US-Iran interim peace deal, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement in Middle East peace efforts and praised the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. The remarks came during a meeting between the PPP delegation and the prime minister at the Prime Minister’s Office. Bilawal was accompanied by senior PPP leaders Sherry Rehman and Naveed Qamar, in what looked like a renewed display of coalition coordination on key political and governance matters. According to an official statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the two sides discussed the prevailing political situation, federal-provincial coordination, and ongoing development projects in Sindh being executed with federal support. The meeting also reviewed fiscal planning ahead of the federal budget for 2026-27, which is expected to be passed by the National Assembly and the Senate by the end of June. Prime Minister Sharif stressed sustained federal-provincial coordination, saying it was vital for macroeconomic stability and continuity of development initiatives across the country. He reiterated that timely completion of development schemes and improved public service delivery remained key priorities of the government. Both sides agreed to further strengthen institutional cooperation for effective implementation of development projects and better alignment of policy objectives between federal and provincial governments. The discussion also covered the need for fiscal discipline and streamlined execution of public sector programmes amid broader economic challenges. Bilawal, on behalf of the PPP leadership, thanked the prime minister for facilitating consensus on key administrative matters, including support for the formation of a government in Gilgit-Baltistan, signalling continued political alignment within the ruling coalition framework. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar. In a separate meeting with women lawmakers of his party, Prime Minister Sharif said lasting peace was essential for economic growth and development, adding that improved security would enable greater public relief. He thanked the women lawmakers for their participation in the ongoing budget session and said the government had made efforts to provide maximum relief in the Budget 2026-27. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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