ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday met leaders of two main parties in the ruling coalition and discussed recently presented federal budget and the current political situation.

According to the PM Office, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Minister for Communications Asad Mahmood met PM Shehbaz and lauded him for allocating funds for development projects in the budget 2023-24 despite financial constraints.

Later, PM Shehbaz on Friday held a meeting with a high-level delegation of the PPP and had a detailed discussion on the current political situation.

Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Climate Cha­nge Sherry Rehman, Min­i­ster for Water Resources Syed Khurshid Shah and other PPP leaders were part of the delegation.

Country may vote in new govt by Nov 10, says Khurram Dastgir

The PPP leaders appreciated the PM for the measures taken for public welfare in the budget despite difficult economic conditions.

In a separate meeting, the PM, while terming talented youth a “real asset” to Balochistan, said the federal government would work on strengthening their professional capacity. The PM was talking to an eight-member PML-N delegation from Balochistan.

Separately, Power Minister Khurram Dastgir said on Friday that Pakistanis should expect to vote for a new government by Nov 10.

During an interview with DawnNews English, the minister was asked whether this was an election year.

“Yes this is. I fully expect and hope that even if the prime minister chooses to dissolve the assembly a day or two before — the maximum we can go up to is Nov 10 — the people of Pakistan should be fully expectant of voting in their new government on or before Nov 10,” the minister said.

He said that the current parliament would stand dissolved on Aug 12.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2023