• Urges national efforts to shore up economy
• Cabinet body formed to look into wheat trade issues; accountability mechanism for Haj operations approved
• Premier calls for vertical expansion to prevent urban sprawl

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday that the government was committed to ensuring stability through its economic policies, while also acknowledging that the US-Iran conflict had adversely affected regional economies, including Pakistan.

Addressing the federal cabinet, the premier said his economic team had made collective efforts over the past two years, which were now coming to fruition, ensuring stability and preventing the need for rationing.

The Iran war, which started with the US-Israeli strikes on Feb 28, caused energy shortages across the globe, forcing governments to ration fuel and impose austerity measures to cope with the crisis.

The PM said a temporary ceasefire was in place, but the war had created significant hurdles for regional economies, including Pakistan. “This is a long and difficult journey. However, nations that commit to facing and overcoming their challenges are the ones that ultimately meet with success,” he added.

He called for concerted national efforts to transform Pakistan into an economic power, urging the same level of dedication and resilience that enabled the country to achieve its status as a responsible nuclear state. The PM also hailed the former prime ministers Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif for their contributions to Pakistan’s nuclear journey. He said Pakistan’s nuclear assets were strictly for defence and deterrence, which had earned the country global recognition as a responsible nuclear state. He also lauded the roles played by scientists, politicians, and national institutions in reaching this milestone. Speaking about the upcoming Youm-i-Takbeer on May 28, the prime minister said that the nation remembered that day as the moment Pakistan achieved an invincible defence in 1998.

About the celebrations of the first anniversary of ‘Marka-i-Haq’ on May 10, the PM said Allah blessed the nation with grandeur in conflict with India in May 2025 due to the professional excellence of the armed forces and national unity.

Cabinet decisions

During the meeting, the cabinet took notice of the problems in the purchase and sale of wheat across the country and constituted a cabinet committee to look into the issue. The wheat price in KP increased significantly and procurement in Punjab had also hit a snag.

Furthermore, the meeting approved the committee’s recommendations and directed that an accountability mechanism be established for the Ministry of Religious Affairs and private Hajj operators to ensure the protection of pilgrims’ rights.

The cabinet approved the handing over of the construction and development of a low-cost housing project in Farash Town to the Capital Development Authority on the recommendation of the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control. On the recommendation of the Revenue Division, the cabinet approved conducting departmental promotion examinations for Pakistan Customs officers through the Federal Public Service Commission. The meeting also approved the decisions taken during the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases held on April 29, 2026. However, it directed that the opinion of the Economic Coordination Committee be obtained regarding amendments to the Tobacco Marketing Control Rules, 2016.

Urban sprawl

In a separate meeting, PM Shehbaz directed authorities concerned to prevent unplanned urban sprawling and called for vertical expansion of cities instead of horizontal. The PM said high-rise buildings and vertical expansion would be encouraged in major cities.

A proposal for master town planning for large cities was also presented. “Providing housing for low-income groups, promoting affordable housing schemes, including encouraging private sector participation, and improving public facilities are among the government’s priorities,” he added.

During the meeting, various proposals regarding reforms in the housing sector were presented.

It was proposed that registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) should be made mandatory for all those working in the housing and development sector. It was suggested that a one-window system should be established to protect the rights of developers, buyers, and other stakeholders.

National Population Council

Separately, the PM said a decision was taken to establish the National Population Council for national policy-making. Calling the balance between resources and population a guarantor for sustainable development, he said population growth is a major challenge, which is increasing pressure on national resources.

The PM said that the government was making efforts to control the increasing rate of population through awareness campaigns, improvement in health and education facilities, and “balanced development”. It was highlighted that the population growth rate in the country reached 2.55pc and providing family planning facilities would help in population management policies.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2026