PM reiterates call for charter of democracy, dialogue with opposition

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif renewed his call for political dialogue with the opposition, urging progress toward a “Charter of Democracy” and a broader national consensus on governance and the economy.

Speaking during a National Assembly session, Sharif said that 22 security personnel were killed three days earlier, praising the sacrifices of the armed forces and saying their efforts protect millions of citizens from harm.

He stressed the need to respect those sacrifices, saying the children of martyrs are often left unaware of the loss of their fathers who “leave this world while protecting the nation’s children.”

The prime minister reiterated his invitation to the opposition to engage in dialogue on a Charter of Democracy and a Charter of Economy, saying political differences should not come in the way of national interest.

“Politics is our own, visions are our own, but Pakistan comes first,” he said, adding that the development of all provinces is his constitutional responsibility.

Sharif also pointed to development projects in Balochistan, including increased provincial shares under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award and ongoing infrastructure initiatives.

He cited the Reko Diq mining project as an example of equitable resource distribution, saying Balochistan’s share in the project was transparent and publicly known.

The prime minister further noted that Balochistan’s NFC share was doubled in the 2010 award, and said federal and provincial contributions were being made toward the province’s development.

He added that a road project from Gwadar to Chaman is under construction to highway standards at a cost of 300 billion rupees, aimed at improving regional connectivity.