ISLAMABAD - Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Raja Nasir Abbas on Monday praised Pakistan's efforts to avert war and reduce tension in the region. Initiating the debate on the Finance Bill 2026-27 in the Senate, he said the country had played a role in promoting peace through dialogue between Iran and the United States.
He suggested that the budget should be prepared with the welfare of the people as its central objective and must provide tangible relief to citizens facing economic difficulties. He said budgetary planning should be based on the country's ground realities, taking into account both expenditures and expected returns, while ensuring that public resources are utilized for the benefit of the people.
Senators from both sides of the aisle on Monday warned that burgeoning debt of the country sans a model of economic development and the dominance of outsiders on the economy were further pushing Pakistan into a quagmire. Opening the budget debate in the Senate, Leader of the Opposition Raja Nasir Abbas said the proposed budget 2026-27 did not protect the people's political independence and pushed Pakistan deeper into foreign economic control.
He asked whether the budget could free the country from the economic dominance of outsiders or was throwing us further into that quagmire. The opposition leader noted that the people of Pakistan had been made irrelevant in the proposed budget, which was the fifth one of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government. Debt has increased a hundredfold since they took charge, he said, warning that increasing debt was pushing the country toward becoming a failed state. He said the public would pay Rs 8 trillion in interest this year.
Talking about politics, he said that it had become a crime to be a politician in this country. They (politicians) are called traitors. Those who broke the country, broke the Constitution, imposed martial law are not traitors, he said. He quickly added that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan was being punished only for being a politician. Imran Khan did not commit corruption, did not set up a single factory, he said.
The leader of the opposition accused the federal government of forcing provinces to give up money in violation of the 18th Amendment. He urged the need for dialogue to bring reforms. The Parliamentary Leader of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the House Senator Sherry Rehman warned about rising debt of the country.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Monday that Pakistan needs serious economic reforms instead of political blame games. Speaking during the National Assembly budget debate, he said the country must focus on practical reforms rather than political arguments. He said reforms were necessary to address inflation and increasing debt which was affecting common man with rising costs of household expenses, utility bills, education, and healthcare.
Highlighting the law and order situation, he called for an in-camera briefing to Parliament on the security situation, including developments in Afghanistan, Iran, and the wider region. He said lawmakers should be fully informed about ground realities. On foreign policy, he said Pakistan's mediation efforts during tensions between Iran and the United States had been appreciated. He also stressed the need for dialogue with Afghanistan, saying regional stability depends on it. He called for stronger action against terrorism. He said recommendations of the Council of Islamic Ideology have not been debated in Parliament despite legal requirements.
Recalling the 1973 Constitution, he said it was formed through consensus among major political leaders and provinces, but warned that later changes have weakened its original spirit, particularly in fiscal arrangements under the National Finance Commission award. On political tensions, he urged efforts to revive the Charter of Democracy and expressed willingness for dialogue with opposition parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying no side would disrupt such a process. He called for political reconciliation, institutional dialogue, and a renewed focus on economic and security reforms, saying Pakistan's challenges can only be addressed through consensus and stability.
Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Monday said Pakistan had witnessed a historic moment, as the country's prestige and standing in the international community had risen to an unprecedented level through its successful diplomatic efforts for regional peace. Speaking in the National Assembly, the minister said the honour earned by Pakistan was unmatched in the country's 78-year history.
There is no doubt that we are passing through a historic moment. The respect and recognition Pakistan has received globally are unprecedented and reflect the wisdom, patience and statesmanship demonstrated by our leadership, he said. Khawaja Asif credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and their teams for steering the delicate process with prudence and determination, adding that the peace initiative had reached its final stages and was expected to be formally concluded with the signing of an agreement on Friday, June 19.
He said the close coordination among the country's leadership had played a key role in achieving the breakthrough, adding that if such cooperation had existed consistently over the past decades, Pakistan might have achieved many more milestones. The minister said the leadership's commitment over the last two-and-a-half years to strengthening Pakistan and improving the well-being of its people had now borne fruit in the form of a major diplomatic success.
Congratulating the people and leadership of Iran, he said the Iranian nation had demonstrated remarkable unity and resilience during a difficult and sensitive period. The unity shown by the Iranian people and leadership is exemplary. If the Muslim Ummah displays the same spirit of solidarity, the day is not far when justice will also prevail for the people of Palestine and other oppressed Muslim communities, he remarked.
Khawaja Asif said that during his long parliamentary career, he could not recall another occasion when Pakistan's leadership and Parliament had received such international recognition. He noted that Pakistan had achieved two major successes within a relatively short period — one on the defence front and the other on the diplomatic front. Referring to Pakistan's recent military achievements against India, he said the armed forces had enhanced the nation's pride and honour.
The defence minister urged the nation to express gratitude to Almighty Allah for these accomplishments and emphasised the need to carry the same spirit of unity into the fight against terrorism. He said terrorism remained a national challenge and required a collective response from all segments of society. Just as the nation stood united in confronting external threats and supporting peace efforts, we must also unite in the struggle against terrorism. This is not the battle of any one institution or government; it is the battle of all 250 million Pakistanis, he said.
Khawaja Asif also thanked the United States leadership for its role in promoting peace and stability in the region and acknowledged efforts aimed at addressing longstanding concerns and grievances. He further called upon Gulf countries to seize the opportunity created by the emerging environment of peace and unity, urging the Muslim world to overcome differences and work collectively for the welfare of Muslims facing hardship in Palestine, Lebanon, Kashmir and other regions. The minister prayed for peace, unity and prosperity across the Muslim world and expressed hope that Pakistan would continue to play a constructive role in promoting regional stability and cooperation.
