PM Shehbaz 'assures' Bilawal of resolving PPP's 'unilateralism' complaints

**ISLAMABAD:** Amid rising political tensions among ruling coalition partners over the federal budget for 2024-25, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assured Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday that steps would be taken to address the key ally’s concerns on various issues, sources told RNN News.

The top leaders of the ruling coalition partners, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the PPP, held a crucial meeting in the federal capital after the PPP staged a token protest during the recent National Assembly session where Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presented the budget for 2024-25.

Sources informed RNN News that Bilawal communicated his party's reservations to PM Shehbaz, highlighting the PPP's concerns as the key ally of the PML-N administration. Although the PPP has not joined the federal cabinet, it supported the formation of the PML-N-led government after the February 8 elections.

During the meeting, Bilawal expressed his dissatisfaction with the federal government's "non-seriousness" towards projects in PPP-led Sindh. He also complained about the administration's failure to involve his party in decision-making processes, including the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and budget proposals.

Discussions also covered the PPP’s potential inclusion in the federal cabinet and power-sharing arrangements in Punjab. Bilawal voiced frustration over the ruling party's failure to honor the agreement that facilitated the coalition government's formation and accused the Maryam Nawaz-led administration of creating obstacles for the PPP in Punjab.

Prime Minister Shehbaz acknowledged most of Bilawal’s concerns and formed separate committees to address these issues. These committees are set to hold further talks to resolve the matters.

The meeting was attended by federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Rana Sanaullah, Attaullah Tarar, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Ali Pervaiz Malik, and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, along with PPP leaders Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Khursheed Shah, and Sherry Rehman.

Bilawal assured the premier that his party would assist the federal government in passing the federal budget in parliament. PPP leader Senator Saleem Mandviwalla confirmed to RNN News that the PPP would support the PML-N-led government regarding the Finance Bill 2024-25 and is in contact with the finance minister. However, he noted that some political matters still needed discussion.

Earlier, the PPP criticized the PML-N-led government for not consulting them over the budget, initially announcing a boycott of the budget session. This decision was reversed after multiple meetings with Deputy Prime Minister Senator Dar on June 12.

The PPP's support is crucial for the ruling party, as the PM Shehbaz-led coalition lacks a parliamentary majority to pass the budget smoothly. Reports indicate that the premier plans to expand the federal cabinet to formally include the PPP, a move the PPP has so far declined, as confirmed by PPP leader Nasir Hussain Shah.

The government faces a deadline of less than two weeks to obtain parliamentary approval for the budget, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) requiring its guidelines to be included. Pakistan has sought a new bailout package from the IMF, although the taxation measures announced by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb have been rejected by trade bodies. The government has clarified that meeting revenue targets is essential to securing the IMF loan.