• Opposition invited to engage constructively with govt
• Cabinet okays National Adolescent and Youth Policy, in principle
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday once again extended an olive branch to the opposition, inviting it to sit with the government for constructive dialogue and stressing that political differences should be resolved through talks to further strengthen Pakistan’s economy and democracy.
Presiding over a meeting of the federal cabinet, the prime minister said the government had always been ready for dialogue and that 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 that it was now up to the opposition to decide how soon it was ready for constructive engagement.
The prime minister also welcomed the Rs32-per-litre reduction in the price of diesel, saying the relief was particularly significant given the difficult situation in the Gulf region and disruptions to global oil supplies.
He appreciated the efforts of the petroleum ministry and its team in securing the reduction, noting that Pakistan was a net energy importer and therefore particularly vulnerable to disruptions in international energy supplies.
Referring to the situation in the Gulf and around the Strait of Hormuz, he said oil supplies had been severely disrupted, while a number of refineries and gas plants in different countries had been shut down.
“The region is passing through a difficult time, and Pakistan, being a net importer of energy, is specifically affected by the situation,” he said.
The prime minister 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.
He expressed 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.
The prime minister 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, he said the initiative had been developed in consultation with the trading community. He directed the Federal Board of Revenue not to unnecessarily inconvenience traders, noting that the business community had reached consensus on the matter.
PM Shehbaz also congratulated the Ministry of IT and Telecommunications and its team on an 18 per cent increase in IT exports in July, describing the growth as a positive development for the country’s digital economy.
He also 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.
The prime minister said the government was working to digitise all departments and expressed hope that Google’s presence would further support these efforts.
Cabinet decisions
The federal cabinet also approved two important bills for introduction in the National Assembly, including the Defence Forces Act, 2026, concerning matters related to the office of the Chief of Defence Forces and the Chief of Defence Forces Headquarters, and amendments to the National Command Authority Act, 2010.
Later in the day, the two bills were passed by both houses of parliament.
The cabinet also approved in principle the National Adolescent and Youth Policy, which the prime minister described as a significant step towards empowering the country’s youth.
The policy, recommended by the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, aims to provide an integrated national framework for young people and ensure equitable and improved economic and social opportunities.
Its four core pillars are education, employment, inclusion and environment.
For implementation, the government plans to establish the Pakistan Youth Development Council and the Federal Adolescent and Youth Agency.
Digital facility for pensioners
Separately, the prime minister launched a digital Proof of Life Certificate system for pensioners, describing it as a major step towards facilitating millions of civilian and military pensioners, particularly senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Under the new system, pensioners will be able to complete their periodic life verification from home through facial recognition and a digital application, eliminating the need for repeated visits to banks.
PM Shehbaz said the facility would particularly ease difficulties faced by elderly and physically challenged pensioners.
Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2026
