ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said his government “remains committed” to its “principled stance” of peaceful dialogue with all political parties for national development, prosperity and political harmony.
The prime minister made this statement while chairing a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, days after an opposition alliance, the TTAP, issued its letter of demand after a two-day conference and at the same time announced a protest “with a jam and a shutdown” on the second anniversary of the “highly rigged” February 8 elections.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s office after the meeting, Shehbaz said he had personally extended offers of dialogue to all political parties on multiple occasions. However, he made it clear that no attempt to disrupt public order under the guise of political dialogue would succeed.
“Dialogue can only advance on the basis of legitimate demands and constitutional principles,” he said, stressing that political harmony is essential for Pakistan’s stability and progress.
Shehbaz affirmed that national interest will continue to be the guiding principle of the government’s decisions, particularly on matters related to economic reform, political stability and public trust.
Earlier, the federal cabinet approved key decisions related to the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and reiterated the government’s strong commitment to transparency, political dialogue and economic reform.
At the special meeting held at the Prime Minister’s House, the cabinet formally endorsed the decisions taken earlier that day by the Cabinet Committee on Privatization regarding the PIA. The cabinet also offered prayers for smooth and successful completion of all stages of the privatization process.
Addressing the cabinet, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif underlined that the privatization of PIA will be carried out in a transparent, credible and trustworthy manner, noting that the bidding process will be telecast live on television.
He said the sealed bids would be placed in transparent boxes, the envelopes would be opened only after the price was determined, and the award would be made through a competitive process to the highest bidder.
“This is one of the largest financial transactions in the history of Pakistan and therefore the entire process must be transparent and credible,” he said, adding that the tender result will be returned to the cabinet for final approval.
He urged cabinet members to actively participate so that decisions can be made with collective wisdom.
He also appreciated the efforts of relevant ministries and cabinet members to push forward the privatization agenda, particularly praising the roles of the Deputy Prime Minister, Defense Minister and Finance Minister.
He described the day as significant for the future of the PIA and expressed confidence that a transparent process would improve economic management and boost private sector confidence.
During the meeting, the prime minister congratulated the nation on Pakistan’s victory in the under-19 cricket championship, calling it a proud moment for the entire country.
He also referred to the recent award of the King Abdulaziz Award to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir by Saudi Arabia, saying the honor did not belong to an individual but to the entire nation and reflected the collective dignity of Pakistan.
The federal cabinet also approved several important political and legislative measures.
On the recommendation of the Petroleum Division, the cabinet approved the extension of the Tax on Off-Grid Power Plants Act, 2025 to include the sale of gas to captive power plants by third parties.
To modernize public procurement processes, the cabinet approved in-principle amendments to the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) Ordinance 2002, aimed at aligning public procurement and tendering procedures with contemporary requirements.
The cabinet also approved the repeal of the National University of Security Sciences Islamabad Bill 2025 and constituted a committee to ensure effective consultation on private members’ bills and other legislation in the National Assembly.
Approved the National Cannabis Control and Regulation Policy 2025, which aims to promote the use of plant-based resources in the pharmaceutical and textile sectors under a regulated framework.
On the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the cabinet approved a visa clearance system designed to facilitate Pakistani citizens to travel abroad by providing a transparent and secure mechanism for acquiring visas.
The federal cabinet also ratified the decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases at its meetings held on October 20, November 5 and 21, 2025, as well as the decisions of the Economic Coordination Committee taken at its meeting on December 18, 2025.
