Chairing the federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad, the Prime Minister said the government had consistently expressed its readiness for constructive dialogue with the opposition. He said it was now up to the opposition to decide when it was prepared to come to the negotiating table.
During the meeting, the federal cabinet approved the draft Defence Forces Act 2026 and amendments to the National Command Authority Act 2010.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Defence Forces Act 2026 has been prepared as part of the legislative process following changes introduced through the 27th Constitutional Amendment. The proposed legislation seeks to define administrative matters relating to the office of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and the Chief of Defence Forces Headquarters.
Following cabinet approval, the draft Defence Forces Act 2026 will be presented before Parliament for consideration and approval. The amended National Command Authority Act 2010 will also be placed before Parliament.
The Prime Minister also expressed satisfaction over the growth in Pakistan’s IT exports, noting that they increased by 18 percent in July. He said the government was working to expand the use of digital technology across all sectors and emphasized the need to fully digitize the governance system.
Shehbaz Sharif appreciated Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and his team for introducing the Fixed Tax Scheme for retailers, directing the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to ensure that retailers were not subjected to unnecessary harassment.
He also praised the Petroleum Minister and his team for reducing the price of diesel by Rs32 per litre, describing the development as welcome.
Discussing the situation in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, the Prime Minister said Pakistan was consistently pursuing diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and improve the regional situation.
He said the government had taken several measures over the past two and a half years to improve the economy, adding that normalization of the regional situation was also important for Pakistan’s economic stability and continued progress.