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Sunday, July 20, 2025

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President, PM Discuss Political and Economic Priorities; Railways Link to Reko Diq Planned

ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Tuesday to discuss the current political and economic landscape of Pakistan. Accompanying the prime minister were Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, and Senator Saleem Mandviwalla.

During the meeting, PM Sharif briefed President Zardari on his recent official visit to the United Arab Emirates and outlined key features of the upcoming federal budget. The president stressed that the budget must prioritise relief for the common man, especially salaried individuals, pensioners, workers, and low-income families, who continue to face significant economic hardship.

Zardari called for employment generation and social protection programmes to uplift the most vulnerable segments of society.


Railways to Link Reko Diq by 2028, Says PM

Later, chairing a high-level meeting on Pakistan Railways’ development, Prime Minister Shehbaz directed authorities to ensure Reko Diq is connected to the national rail network by 2028, enhancing the region’s logistical capacity for mineral transport and economic growth.

He announced the formation of an inter-ministerial committee to assess and propose financing mechanisms for the upgradation of Pakistan Railways, including major projects such as ML-1 and ML-3.

Calling railways a cheap, fast, and eco-friendly transport mode, the premier noted that linking Balochistan’s mining sector to rail will not only boost exports but also create new job opportunities in underdeveloped areas.

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