Shehbaz, Zardari discuss key issues as PPP hints at budget support

According to sources in the know, a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari has led to a consensus between the federal administration and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on most of the ideas for the 2018 federal budget.

A meeting held at Aiwan-e-Sadr where PM Shehbaz led the government team and met key PPP leaders. Prime Minister was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers and staff of the Ministry of Finance.

PM Shehbaz was received by President Zardari on his arrival at the Presidency. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari headed the party’s delegation during the talks that were held on the federal budget and other significant national issues.

Sources said the two parties agreed on most of each other’s recommendations on the budget in the meetings. The move is seen as a big step forward in winning parliamentary backing for the government’s budgetary strategy.

Sources added PPP has also given a positive indication for the adoption of the government budget. BUT debates on several practical and technological issues are likely to continue.

Sources noted that technical committees on both sides will continue conversations on a number of practical issues that need to be studied further before final decisions are taken.
There was also a brief discussion on the just ended elections in Gilgit-Baltistan. Sources said PM Shehbaz thanked President Zardari on the PPP’s

electoral success inside the region.

The prime minister reportedly smiled and said that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had run a more effective election campaign than his political rivals during the chat. President Zardari reacted in a lighter vein: “After all who is his father?”

Sources further disclosed that the meeting was also attended by the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. They exchanged opinions on the prevailing situation in Azad Kashmir and developments in the region.

The talks come at a critical time as the government seeks political agreement ahead of the presentation and passage of the federal budget, with both sides apparently narrowing divisions on major budgetary ideas.