ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said his government “remains committed” to its “principled position” of peaceful dialogue with all political parties for national development, prosperity and political harmony.
The prime minister made the statement while chairing a cabinet meeting on Tuesday days after an opposition alliance – TTAP – issued its demand following a two-day conference, while also announcing “a wheel-locking and shutdown” protest on the second anniversary of the “heavily rigged” February 8 election.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office after the meeting, Shehbaz said he had personally extended offers of dialogue to all political parties on several occasions. However, he made it clear that no attempt to disrupt law and order under the guise of political dialogue would be allowed to succeed.
“Dialogue can move forward only on the basis of legitimate demands and constitutional principles,” he said, stressing that political harmony is essential for Pakistan’s stability and progress.
Shehbaz stated that national interest will continue to be the guiding principle of the government’s decisions, especially in matters of economic reforms, political stability and public confidence.
Earlier, the federal cabinet approved key decisions related to the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and reiterated the government’s firm commitment to transparency, political dialogue and economic reform.
In the extraordinary meeting at the Prime Minister’s House, the government formally approved the decisions taken earlier in the day by the Cabinet Committee on Privatization regarding PIA. The cabinet also asked for smooth and successful completion of all phases of the privatization process.
Addressing the Cabinet, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that the PIA privatization would be done in a transparent, credible and reliable manner, noting that the tender process would be telecast live.
He said sealed bids would be placed in transparent boxes, with envelopes opened only after pricing, and the award would be made through a competitive process to the highest bidder.
“This is one of the biggest financial transactions in the history of Pakistan and therefore the entire process must be transparent and credible,” he said, adding that the outcome of the tender would be brought back to the cabinet for final approval.
He urged members of government to participate actively so that decisions could be made with collective wisdom.
He also appreciated the efforts of the relevant ministries and cabinet members in advancing the privatization agenda, particularly praising the roles of Deputy Prime Minister, Defense Minister and Finance Minister.
He described the day as important for PIA’s future and expressed confidence that a transparent process would improve financial governance and increase confidence in the private sector.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister congratulated the nation on Pakistan’s victory in the U-19 cricket championship and called it a moment of pride for the entire country.
He also referred to the recent award of King Abdulaziz Award to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir of Saudi Arabia and said that the honor did not belong to an individual but to the entire nation and reflected the collective dignity of Pakistan.
The federal cabinet also approved several key policy and legislative measures.
Following the recommendation of the Petroleum Division, Cabinet approved the extension of the Off-Grid Power Plants Levy Act 2025 to include the sale of gas to tied power plants by third parties.
In order to modernize public procurement processes, the government gave approval in principle to changes to the PPRA Regulation from 2002 with the aim of adapting public procurement and procurement procedures to contemporary requirements.
The Cabinet also approved the repeal of the National University for Security Sciences Islamabad Bill 2025 and constituted a committee to ensure effective consultation on private members’ bills and other legislation in the National Assembly.
It approved the National Cannabis Control and Regulatory Policy 2025, which aims to promote the use of plant-based resources in the pharmaceutical and textile sectors under a regulated framework.
On the recommendation of the Ministry of Interior, the Cabinet approved a visa approval system designed to facilitate Pakistani nationals traveling abroad by providing a transparent and secure mechanism for visa acquisition.
The Federal Cabinet also ratified the decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Affairs at its meetings held on 20 October, 5 November and 21 November 2025, as well as the decisions of the Economic Coordination Committee taken at its meeting on 18 December 2025.
