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A significant breakthrough has been achieved in the ongoing negotiations between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led federal government. The key issues of governance in Punjab and Budget 2024-25 were the focal points of the intense negotiation session held in Islamabad.
The PPP had been vocal about its grievances regarding the distribution of development funds and administrative appointments in Punjab. The government has now agreed to address these concerns, marking a major step forward in the talks. The PPP delegation, led by Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Ali Haider Gilani, Nadeem Afzal Chan, and Hasan Murtaza, met with the PML-N representatives, including Malik Ahmed Khan, Rana Sanaullah, and Khawaja Saad Rafique, to resolve the outstanding issues.
The discussions aimed to ensure the smooth passage of the upcoming budget for the fiscal year 2024-25. Senior PPP leader Nadeem Afzal Chan highlighted the concerns in Punjab, including capacity issues and local body elections. He emphasized the PPP’s commitment to non-revengeful governance and effective administration in the province.
The resolution of these issues is crucial for the coalition government, particularly with the budget session underway. The PPP’s participation in the budget session, previously marred by a boycott, signals a positive shift. This cooperation is vital for the PML-N-led coalition, which cannot afford to lose PPP’s support for the budget approval and other legislative processes due to a fragmented mandate from the recent elections.
Sources indicate that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is expected to address the assembly to discuss the budget details, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif likely to attend. Despite these agreements, underlying tensions remain. The PML-N has previously accused the PPP of leveraging critical moments for undue gains, a sentiment echoed during the 20-month tenure of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) before the caretaker setup took charge.