Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the Afghan authorities need to make sincere and tangible efforts to address Pakistan's legitimate concerns for a durable ceasefire. He was chairing the Federal Cabinet meeting in Islamabad today.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan agreed to an interim ceasefire of forty-eight hours on the request of Afghanistan and now the ball is in Kabul's court to decide the matter peacefully. He said Pakistan is ready for resolving the issue on the dialogue table. Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan was forced to respond to terrorist activities being operated from Afghan soil, killing innocent civilians and security personnel of Pakistan. He said Pakistan has conveyed its concerns through diplomatic channels but to no avail.
Regarding peace deal in Gaza, the Prime Minister said halting of bloodshed and hostilities in Gaza is a big achievement as a result of strenuous efforts of US President Donald Trump and other countries, including Pakistan, Turkiye, and Qatar. He said Pakistan will continue supporting the people of Palestine and Kashmir for their rights. The Prime Minister also commended his economic team for securing a Staff Level Agreement with the International Monetary Fund. Stressing the need for making Pakistan economically strong and stable, he said it should be the last programme for the country.
The federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, held a crucial meeting in Islamabad on Thursday, endorsing a series of decisions made by the Cabinet Committee on Inter-Governmental Trade Affairs.
The session also addressed pressing issues related to national security, foreign relations, and economic reforms. According to official sources, the meeting reviewed the recent provocations linked to Afghan Taliban elements, as well as groups labelled by the government as "Fitna al-Hind" and "Fitna al-Khawarij", signalling renewed concerns over regional instability and internal security threats.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif briefed cabinet members on the outcomes of his recent official visit to Egypt. He shared diplomatic developments and regional engagements, emphasising Pakistan's strategic positioning in current geopolitical dynamics.The cabinet also conducted a comprehensive review of the country’s overall political and economic situation, assessing ongoing challenges and policy responses.
Sources confirmed that the cabinet formally ratified the decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Inter-Governmental Trade, covering a range of bilateral trade and policy matters. In addition, discussions were held on the agenda concerning overseas employment and the promotion of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) initiatives. The cabinet further endorsed decisions from three separate meetings of the Cabinet Committee on legislative cases. Regulatory reforms were also reviewed, with recommendations from the relevant cabinet committee presented for further consideration. A detailed report on reforms in Pakistan’s power sector was submitted by the Ministry of Energy.
The report outlined structural challenges and proposed solutions aimed at improving efficiency and sustainability in electricity generation and distribution.
Reporter: Awais Kiyani