ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and all four provincial chief ministers — Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Shahbaz Sharif, Aslam Raisani and Ameer Haider Hoti — have agreed in principle to hold elections of the national and provincial assemblies on the same day.

The agreement was reached during a meeting of the four provincial chief ministers and Governor Balochistan Nawab Zufiqar Ali Magsi with PM Ashraf in Islamabad.

“As proposed by the prime minister, the chief ministers agreed in principle that the elections of national and provincial assemblies will be held in the country on the same day for logistical, administrative, and financial reasons, which would also promote political harmony in the country,” said a press release issued by the PM House.

The meeting started hours before the completion of the National Assembly’s five-year term.

The meeting expressed the confidence that all matters relating to the appointments of caretaker governments at the federal and provincial levels would be resolved amicably, added the press release.

Sources said that a date for the dissolution of the provincial assemblies was still being discussed. A recommendation to dissolve all provincial assemblies on March 19 was also under consideration, they added.