PM offers talks to Opp as cabinet nods to draft Defence Forces Act, amendments to NCA Act

The Federal Cabinet has approved the draft Defence Forces Act 2026 and amendments to the National Command Authority Act 2010, following the constitutional changes introduced through the 27th Constitutional Amendment, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The Federal Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, nodded to the Defence Forces Act 2026, which seeks to provide the necessary legal and administrative framework concerning the office of the Chief of Defence Forces and the Chief of Defence Forces Headquarters.

Following the cabinet’s approval, the draft Defence Forces Act 2026 will be presented before parliament for consideration and approval during its ongoing session, a press release issued by the PM Office in Islamabad said.

The cabinet also approved amendments to the National Command Authority Act 2010, which were deemed necessary following the 27th Constitutional Amendment.

The amended draft of the National Command Authority Act 2010 will also be presented before the parliament for approval.

Talks offer to Opposition

Addressing the cabinet meeting, PM Shehbaz Sharif once again invited the Opposition to sit with the government for constructive dialogue, saying that political matters should be resolved through talks to further strengthen Pakistan’s economy and democracy.

Shehbaz Sharif said the government had always been ready for dialogue and he had repeatedly expressed this position on the floor of the National Assembly as well as before the cabinet. “I once again invite the Opposition to come and sit together. Matters should be resolved through dialogue so that Pakistan’s economy and democracy can be further strengthened,” he said, adding it was now up to the Opposition to decide how soon it was ready for constructive engagement.

He also welcomed the reduction of Rs32 per litre in the price of diesel, and said the achievement was particularly significant in view of the difficult situation prevailing in the Gulf region and disruptions to global oil supplies.

The prime minister commended the efforts of the ministry of petroleum and its team in securing the reduction, noting that Pakistan was a net energy importer and was therefore particularly vulnerable to disruptions in international energy supplies.

Referring to the prevailing situation in the Gulf and around the Strait of Hormuz, Shehbaz Sharif said oil supplies had been severely disrupted, while a number of refineries and gas plants in different countries had been closed. “The region is passing through a difficult time, and Pakistan, being a net importer of energy, is specifically affected by the situation,” he said.

He recalled that following the outbreak of the conflict, the federal government had arranged Rs128 billion to help control oil prices, while the provinces had subsequently also contributed towards efforts to provide relief.

The prime minister expressed the hope that the regional situation would improve in the coming weeks and said Pakistan would continue playing its role in efforts aimed at reducing tensions and ensuring stability.

He also highlighted recent positive developments in the economy, saying the government’s measures were gradually producing results and needed to be sustained so that economic conditions could return to normal.

Referring to the launch of an application for retailers, Shehbaz Sharif said the initiative was done in consultation with the trading community. He directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) not to unnecessarily inconvenience traders, noting that the business community had reached consensus on the matter.

He also congratulated the Ministry of IT and Telecommunications and its team on an 18 percent increase in IT exports in July 2026, saying the growth was a positive development for the country’s digital economy.

Shehbaz Sharif further welcomed the establishment of a Google office in Pakistan, saying the presence of the global technology company would contribute to the country’s digital transformation.

He said the government was working to digitize all departments and expressed the hope that Google’s presence in Pakistan would further support these efforts being pursued by the government.

Shehbaz Sharif also warned the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) that its officers “will face music if they unnecessarily harass traders”.

 

Reporter Awais Kiyani

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