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BY Mahnoor | 20-06-2026
ISLAMABAD:
Tax breaks for the merged tribal areas are ending this month. On Friday, the government promised the opposition it would ask the IMF for more time. During a rare meeting, both sides also discussed how to improve political talk and democracy.
This agreement happened after government and PTI leaders met at Parliament House. This followed concerns from the opposition about the end of tax waivers for the former Fata and Pata regions.
The government said it will discuss the issue with the IMF. Meanwhile, the PTI party showed it is ready to talk and might support a wider democratic agreement.
After the meeting, Rana Sanaullah, an advisor to the Prime Minister, told reporters that Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb promised the opposition that they would try to keep the tax exemptions.
Sanaullah said the finance minister promised the opposition that he would try to extend these tax breaks after talking to the IMF. The meeting was held in Aurangzeb’s office.
Government minister Amir Muqam attended, while PTI leaders Asad Qaiser, Junaid Akbar, and other party members represented the opposition.
Sanaullah stated that PTI lawmakers brought up tax exemptions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a National Assembly meeting today. In response, the Prime Minister told Sanaullah, Aurangzeb, and Amir Muqam to talk to the opposition right away.
Sanaullah added that Muqam is already working on this, and the government hopes to extend the exemptions after discussing them with the IMF.
Besides the tax problem, the meeting also discussed politics. Sanaullah emphasized that talking to each other is necessary for a democracy.
“This is the base of democracy,” he said.
Sanaullah encouraged the opposition to accept Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer to talk and create a new national agreement called the “Charter of Pakistan.
” He said the opposition should accept this offer and start a dialogue.
The adviser added that they can discuss any topic they want, as the Prime Minister is ready to listen and talk.
Sanaullah said the opposition’s response was positive. He noted that PTI members told the government they are discussing the matter and will make a decision soon.
He also thanked the opposition for supporting a National Assembly resolution passed earlier today, which praised Pakistan’s leaders for helping achieve the recent peace deal between the US and Iran.
Talking about Imran Khan’s health, Sanaullah said the former prime minister is getting the best medical care in Pakistan for an eye problem while in Adiala Jail.
He also noted that Khan is still in legal custody and can only be released by a court.
Regarding Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sanaullah said the bad plan to cause unrest and stop the movement for a free Kashmir has been stopped.
He hoped that the small delays in supplies would be fixed within a week.
PTI’s answer
After the meeting, PTI leader Asad Qaiser said he welcomed more political discussion and that his party was willing to support a wider agreement.
He added, “We are always ready to talk to make democracy work properly.”
Qaiser said PTI is ready to sign a ‘Charter of Democracy’ if it promises equal political rights and independent institutions.
He stated that there should be no political revenge, the courts should be independent, and the parliament should be made stronger.
He said both sides talked about the new federal budget and shared their worries with the finance minister.
He specifically mentioned a planned tax on tobacco and warned that new money rules could hurt the economy, especially since trade with Afghanistan is still stopped.
He said some of the suggested plans would destroy what remains of the economy.
When asked a question, Qaiser explained that neither side started the talks alone.
He said the meeting was held because both the government and the opposition wanted it.
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