ISLAMABAD, April 29: President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani met here on Tuesday and discussed key political and economic issues, including increase in prices of essential items and food and power shortages.

Sources in the Pakistan People’s Party said the president assured the prime minister of his full support to the coalition government in resolving the challenging issues. The meeting lasted about one and a half hours.

The sources said the president had invited the prime minister to the Army House.

The president’s spokesman Rashid Qureshi said the prime minister apprised Gen (retd) Musharraf of his government’s policies on issues relating to internal and external security and terrorism.

Responding to a question, Mr Qureshi rejected reports that President Musharraf had expressed reservations on peace talks initiated by the government with tribal chiefs.

The sources said the president asked Prime Minister Gilani to ensure stability in the prices of consumer items.

The prime minister informed the president that his government planned to overcome the energy crisis in three years.

They reviewed the recent visit to the country by Iranian President Ahmedinejad who had offered to supply 1,100 megawatts electricity a day to Pakistan.