PM Shehbaz announces likely fuel price reduction, seeks unity in House

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday told the National Assembly (NA) that a significant reduction in fuel prices would be announced later in the day and called for a unanimous parliamentary resolution to project national unity, as he hailed Pakistan’s role in recent diplomatic efforts that he said contributed to global peace.

The NA session began under the chairmanship of Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. Upon arriving in the House, the prime minister was welcomed by desk-thumping from lawmakers

Addressing the House during the budget session, PM Shehbaz said oil prices had declined following a ceasefire and expressed hope they would fall further.

“Today, God willing, a significant reduction will be announced,” he said, referring to fuel prices due to be revised on Friday.

The prime minister said Pakistan had earned international recognition and urged lawmakers across party lines to support a unanimous resolution.

“If this House passes a unanimous resolution on this matter, it will send a message of unity to the world,” he said, adding that political differences should not stand in the way of national interests.

PM Shehbaz said Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir had played the most crucial role in securing a global peace agreement and had worked tirelessly over the past two to three months.

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He also credited Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi for their contributions, saying there had been several moments when negotiations appeared close to collapse.

The prime minister congratulated opposition lawmakers as well as PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, President Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

PM Shehbaz told parliament that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had telephoned him on Thursday evening to thank Pakistan and had specifically acknowledged Field Marshal Asim Munir’s role.

The prime minister said he had invited Pezeshkian to visit Pakistan and that the invitation had been accepted. He added that the Iranian president had invited Pakistan to attend the funeral of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and that a Pakistani delegation would participate.

The premier thanked provincial governments, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, petroleum officials and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb for helping manage the economy during difficult circumstances.

He said government efforts had prevented shortages and queues at petrol stations, contrasting the situation with Sri Lanka.

 PM Shehbaz later walked to the seats of Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai and PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan to shake hands with them.

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq provided details of participation in the budget debate, saying government members still had two-and-a-half hours of speaking time remaining.

He said 66 opposition lawmakers had taken part in the debate. While nine hours had been allocated to the opposition, its members had spoken for 14 hours and four minutes, exceeding their allotted time by five hours, three minutes and 28 seconds.

The speaker said opposition claims that they were not allowed to speak were contradicted by repeated invitations extended to members to participate in the debate.

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He added that Thursday’s sitting had deliberately been extended by half an hour to accommodate additional speeches and that government members had also been invited to speak, but none had done so during the evening session.

Ayaz Sadiq announced that Friday’s sitting would be adjourned until Saturday before Juma prayers.

Speaking during the debate, PPP lawmaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said an Iran-US agreement had demonstrated Pakistan’s desire for global peace and claimed Pakistan had helped avert a third world war.

He congratulated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir and called for government employees’ salaries to be increased by 10 per cent, arguing that the proposed seven per cent raise was insufficient.

Ashraf said political stability, improved law and order, poverty reduction and consensus-based policymaking were essential for economic growth and foreign investment.

He also addressed the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), saying he had served on a government negotiating team that accepted 80 per cent of protesters’ demands, while the issue of refugee seats remained unresolved.

According to Ashraf, electricity tariffs were reduced to Rs3 per unit and flour subsidies were granted as part of the negotiations. He called for the formation of another negotiating committee and urged both protesters and authorities to pursue dialogue.

Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai told the House that the day should not be used for political point-scoring and stressed that parliament, the military and national interests belonged to all Pakistanis.

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He called for powers taken away from parliament to be restored and urged the prime minister to make decisions independently. Achakzai also criticised the suspension of lawmaker Iqbal Afridi for the duration of the budget session and appealed for the decision to be reversed. He said his party would provide unconditional support for strengthening parliament and democracy.

Following his remarks, the prime minister crossed the floor and held brief consultations with Achakzai, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb joined the discussions, after which the prime minister called him aside and issued instructions.

Separately, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also met opposition leaders at their seats in the House for consultations.