NA passes budget for FY2026-27 in opposition's absence

The National Assembly passed on Tuesday the budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 in a session that saw the opposition staging a walkout.

The walkout was preceded by a speech by Opposition Leader in the NA Mehmood Khan Achakzai, who criticised the government over several issues.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also addressed the House after Achakzi, expressing hope that the memorandum of understanding signed by the US and Iran before the two sides held talks in Switzerland over the weekend would turn into a “long-lasting agreement”.

He said this while addressing the National Assembly, where he recalled the developments at the recent summit in the Swiss resort of Burgenstock, where delegations from the US and Iran held an hours-long discussion with Pakistan and Qatar participating as mediators.

“Pakistan tried its best, with complete sincerity, to close the distance between the two sides,” he said, adding that the dialogue that began on Sunday stretched past midnight into Monday.

He recalled that a joint statement was issued by the mediators in the early hours of Monday after the dialogue concluded, noting that technical talks would be held between the US and Iran over the next 60 days. The negotiations would also cover Iran’s nuclear assets, ballistic missiles and frozen assets, he added.

“We fully hope that the MoU will turn into a long-lasting agreement over the next 60 days, leading to peace in the world,” he hoped.

The premier went on to congratulate the nation and members of the House, including those from the opposition, highlighting Pakistan’s “key” and “historic” role in the armistice. “World’s renowned newspapers featured Pakistan on their front pages,” he said.

PM Shehbaz termed it a “positive narrative” regarding Pakistan, adding that “we would not have been able to achieve it even after spending billions of rupees”.

Mentioning that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was due in Pakistan today, he said the day’s discussion would focus on strengthening ties between the two countries, and this was not the time to raise differences.

The premier expressed this grievance, noting the absence of Opposition Leader in the NA Mehmood Khan Achakzai.

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