Summary Azad Kashmir situation also reviewed during Islamabad meeting
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – A meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari has resulted in broad agreement between the federal government and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on most proposals related to the upcoming federal budget, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
The meeting took place at Aiwan-e-Sadr, where a government delegation led by PM Shehbaz met senior PPP leaders. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers and officials from the Ministry of Finance accompanied the prime minister.
President Zardari received PM Shehbaz upon his arrival at the Presidency. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari led the party's delegation during the discussions, which focused on the federal budget and other important national matters.
According to sources, both sides agreed on the majority of each other's budget-related proposals during the talks. The development is being viewed as a significant step towards securing parliamentary support for the government's financial plan.
Sources said the PPP has also given a positive indication regarding the approval of the federal budget. However, discussions on certain practical and technical matters are expected to continue.
Technical committees from both sides will remain engaged in consultations on a number of workable proposals that require further examination before final decisions are made, sources added.
The meeting also included a brief exchange on the recently concluded Gilgit-Baltistan elections. According to sources, PM Shehbaz congratulated President Zardari on the PPP's
electoral success in the region.
During the conversation, the prime minister reportedly remarked with a smile that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had conducted a more effective election campaign than his political rivals. President Zardari responded light-heartedly, saying, "After all, whose son is he?"
Sources further revealed that the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir also attended the meeting. Participants reviewed the latest situation in Azad Kashmir and exchanged views on developments in the region.
The discussions come at a critical time as the government seeks political consensus ahead of the presentation and passage of the federal budget, with both sides appearing to have narrowed differences on key fiscal proposals.
