The government has decided to withdraw the Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, saying that it was not in line with the national policy.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the summary recommending the withdrawal of the ordinance, and the President was advised to act under Article 89(2)(b) of the Constitution. Following this, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a notification confirming the implementation of the decision.
The ordinance, which had sparked controversy during its issuance, had earlier prompted the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to walk out of the National Assembly session in protest.
Officials emphasized that the withdrawal reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring that legislative measures align with the broader national policy framework.
Clarification from Federal Law Minister
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar clarified details regarding the ordinance and the approval process. He explained that nowadays, files are approved through e-office, where approvals happen online. “This ordinance had also been approved and considered as approval from staff to staff,” he said, adding that when the signed files were received, there was no signature on this ordinance—it had only been printed. “This mistake was made, which has now been corrected,” he noted.
Tarar further explained the procedural aspects: “If a bill goes to the President from a joint session, the President can keep it for ten days. As a goodwill gesture, these bills were also not notified because the President did not approve them.”
Highlighting the cooperative political context, he said, “The Pakistan People's Party and the PML-N have a good relationship. Due to this understanding, this ordinance has also been withdrawn. In the future, matters will be handled with mutual understanding and coordination.”