President Asif Ali Zardari met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Lahore, holding detailed discussions on the country’s political, economic and security situation.
The meeting took place at the Prime Minister’s residence in Model Town, Lahore, where Shehbaz Sharif personally welcomed the president.
The discussions focused on national affairs, cooperation between coalition partners and efforts to strengthen economic stability and accelerate development initiatives.
The high-level meeting comes amid ongoing political discussions over governance, economic challenges and proposals concerning the creation of new provinces in Pakistan.
In this regard, both leaders reviewed the overall political, economic and security situation in the country.
They exchanged views on important national matters and discussed the government’s priorities for addressing ongoing challenges.
The two leaders also emphasized the importance of maintaining political coordination and consultation among coalition partners.
They discussed progress on public welfare initiatives and stressed the need for continued cooperation to achieve national development objectives.
During the meeting, both leaders confirmed their commitment to working together to strengthen economic stability and accelerate the country’s development process.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also briefed President Zardari on his recent visit to Turkey and his participation in the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31).
The discussion provided an opportunity for the prime minister to share details of his international engagements and related developments.
The official statement did not provide further details about specific decisions taken during the meeting.
However, the discussions highlighted the importance of political coordination and cooperation between the country’s top leadership.
Those present included National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah and Punjab Assembly member Hamza Shehbaz.
Zardari’s Lahore Visit Follows Stay in Nawabshah
President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in Lahore from Nawabshah a day before the meeting. He had spent several days in Nawabshah for personal engagements before travelling to the provincial capital.
During his stay, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had also met the president.
Reports subsequently emerged in the media suggesting that discussions about the creation of new provinces had taken place during the meeting between Zardari and Naqvi. However, the Presidency rejected these reports in a clarification issued on Friday.
According to the statement, the meeting between the president and interior minister focused on national security and regional developments. It specifically clarified that the issue of creating new provinces was not discussed.
Mohsin Naqvi Calls for Referendum on Creation of New Provinces
The debate over new provinces gained attention after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed support for seeking public opinion through a referendum.
Speaking to the media in Lahore before meeting President Zardari, Naqvi urged political parties to consult the public on the issue.
He said that if citizens supported the creation of new provinces, the proposal should move forward. However, if the public rejected the idea, he would fully support their decision.
Naqvi argued that political parties frequently describe democracy as a system in which the people are supreme and should therefore allow citizens to decide the matter through a referendum.
He also referred to survey reports that, according to his claim, indicated majority support for the creation of additional provinces.
The latest meeting between President Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif comes at a time when political coordination, economic stability and administrative reforms remain important subjects of national debate.
