ISLAMABAD: Top leaders from the ruling PML-N and its key ally, the PPP, met on Thursday to resolve ongoing differences regarding governance and recent policy decisions by the federal and Punjab governments.
The meeting, held at the Prime Minister House and followed by a dinner, saw the PPP express dissatisfaction over the lack of implementation of agreements made when the coalition government was formed in February.
The PPP delegation, led by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, shared their grievances with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his cabinet, particularly concerning the Punjab government. They agreed that coordination committees from both parties will meet at the Governor House in Lahore on Sunday to establish a mechanism for improved coordination.
A handout from the PM Office stated that both parties reviewed the current political situation, with PM Sharif emphasizing his commitment to the country’s development in collaboration with coalition partners. The PPP delegation included former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Senate leader Sherry Rehman, and MNA Naveed Qamar. The PM was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Adviser on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar.
The meeting followed tensions over rising electricity tariffs and the rightsizing of ministries. These issues intensified when PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz announced a Rs14 per unit relief for Punjab consumers, which was criticized by the PPP-led Sindh government and the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah accused the PML-N of causing high electricity costs with costly power plants and claimed that federal neglect had stalled many federal projects in Sindh. The PPP also raised concerns over the federal government’s approach to rightsizing ministries.
During the meeting, PM Sharif clarified that the Punjab government funded the electricity relief from its own budget, not federal funds. The parties agreed to maintain cooperation both inside and outside parliament, with the PML-N expressing discontent over the Sindh Chief Minister’s comments, labeling them as “inappropriate.”
Ahsan Iqbal described the meeting as cordial and confirmed that the PPP’s concerns about the implementation of agreements, mostly related to Punjab, were discussed. He noted that PM Sharif plans to announce power sector reforms soon and promised to consult the PPP beforehand.
The leaders also reviewed the upcoming legislative agenda, with the National Assembly session scheduled to begin on August 26.
