Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday lauded the spirit of cooperation among coalition partners that led to the successful passage of the federal budget 2025-26, calling it a crucial step toward national economic stability and growth.

Chairing a meeting of the federal cabinet, PM Shehbaz commended Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and his team for crafting what he described as a “forward-looking” budget.

He credited the coalition parties, particularly Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, President Asif Ali Zardari, and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, for playing an “active and responsible” role in the approval process.

“Their unity and leadership ensured the smooth passage of this budget, which lays the groundwork for economic relief and development starting July 1,” the premier said, adding that the treasury benches performed responsibly and showed full participation during the legislative process.

Iran-Israel ceasefire: A diplomatic win for Pakistan

In a shift to foreign affairs, PM Shehbaz highlighted what he called an "unprecedented acknowledgement" by Iran for Pakistan’s role in de-escalating the recent conflict between Iran and Israel.

“The Iran-Israel war has ended — and for the first time, Iran has openly thanked Pakistan, including its political and military leadership, for its support,” he revealed.

According to the prime minister, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir played a pivotal role by holding a key meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Istanbul. The dialogue, he said, reinforced bilateral ties and helped move the two sides toward a ceasefire.

He also claimed that a lunch meeting between Field Marshal Munir and former US President Donald Trump added international momentum to ceasefire efforts. “President Trump was deeply impressed by our Field Marshal,” said PM Shehbaz. “After that, diplomatic efforts accelerated.”

Saudi Arabia also condemned the Israeli aggression, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly engaging directly with Iran, adding weight to the ceasefire efforts. Iran, during backchannel talks, emphasized that its actions were defensive in nature and that it was open to peace if hostilities from Israel ceased.

Call for peace and unity during Muharram

With the sacred month of Muharram approaching, PM Shehbaz called on all citizens to promote religious harmony and unity during upcoming processions and gatherings.

“This is the month of Karbala, a time to reflect and remain peaceful. Sectarian harmony is our collective duty,” he stated.

He noted that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had already chaired a high-level meeting to ensure foolproof security arrangements across the country, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir.

The prime minister also condemned the recent attack on Qatar, calling it an assault on a “brotherly nation.” He reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm stance in favor of regional peace and diplomatic solutions.

PM Shehbaz concluded the meeting by reaffirming the government’s commitment to economic relief and development in the new fiscal year. “We aim to provide real relief to the people and advance our development agenda with unity and determination,” he said.