ISLAMABAD: A senior Pakistani opposition leader, whose party was instrumental in bringing the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, advocated the idea of setting up a “national government” without the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party during an interview with a local news channel on Wednesday.
Last week, the opposition filed a no-trust motion against the prime minister in the National Assembly Secretariat to topple the PTI-led coalition.
While the opposition has accused Khan’s administration for misgovernance, its leading politicians have also faced criticism for not sharing their political strategy after removing the government.
Some of its leaders have previously hinted at the possibility of holding fresh elections in the country, but this is the first time the top leader of a major opposition party has mooted the idea of a national government.
“I will say this to my party members that we should establish a national government that does not include [the ruling] PTI [party],” said Shehbaz Sharif, president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, while speaking to Geo News.
Sharif is also the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly whose party was in power before Khan won the last general elections in July 2018.
Explaining the rationale behind his political preference, the PML-N president said all components of the national government should collectively work for five years with full sincerity and diligence to serve the country which was facing daunting challenges.
Asked how a national government could be set up without the PTI party, Sharif maintained: “The PTI has poisoned our society.”
He added the impact of Khan’s party on Pakistan’s politics would not go away for many years to come.
Sharif and his family have faced several corruption references against them since the arrival of the PTI-led administration.
He and other opposition leaders have frequently maintained the government’s accountability drive is politically motivated which is solely launched to target its rivals.
Leading Pakistani opposition politician calls for ‘national government’ for five years
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Leading Pakistani opposition politician calls for ‘national government’ for five years
- PML-N president says the national government should exclude PM Khan’s PTI party and try to diligently serve the country
- Shehbaz Sharif tells a local news channel Khan’s party has ‘poisoned’ Pakistani society
Pakistan assures US of facilitating foreign investment, increasing business engagement
- Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb meets US deputy assistant secretary of South and Central Asian Affairs
- Both sides discuss Pakistan’s progress in implementing reforms, avenues for increasing economic cooperation
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to facilitating foreign investment and enhancing engagement with the American business community, the Finance Division said in a statement.
The statement was issued after Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met Mark Pommersheim, the US deputy assistant secretary of the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. Pommersheim called on the Pakistani finance minister along with US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker at the Finance Division.
Both sides discussed Pakistan’s economic outlook, reform agenda and avenues for enhancing bilateral economic cooperation, the statement said.
“The finance minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating foreign investment and maintaining regular engagement with the US business community, including the US Chamber of Commerce and the American Business Council,” the Finance Division said.
Aurangzeb informed the US officials about the progress regarding Pakistan’s macroeconomic stabilization reforms. He shared that Pakistan’s fiscal deficit has declined in recent months while the country’s current account has improved due to strong remittance inflows and growth in IT exports.
The finance minister noted that reforms in Pakistan’s state-owned enterprises and “right-sizing” of the public sector are being accelerated to improve efficiency and reduce fiscal risks.
The Finance Division said Pommersheim acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts toward fiscal stabilization, welcoming improvement in key macroeconomic indicators.
“He emphasized that the United States values a stable and prosperous Pakistan and noted that strengthening the investment climate remains a shared priority,” the statement said.
“He observed that US businesses are closely watching reform progress and that improved policy consistency would further support commercial engagement.”
Pakistan has sought to re-energize economic diplomacy with Washington as it attempts to enhance its exports, attract foreign investment and stabilize its economy under an International Monetary Fund-backed reform program.
Relations between Pakistan and the US have improved significantly under President Trump’s administration. In July 2025, the two countries agreed to a bilateral trade deal that included reciprocal tariff reductions.
Since 2025, the two sides have increased diplomatic contacts, including meetings between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s military leadership and US officials, alongside discussions on trade, minerals, security cooperation and regional stability.
