Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while addressing a federal cabinet meeting ahead of the presentation of Pakistan’s third budget, emphasised that no country can effectively manage its affairs or achieve progress without strong national security.The cabinet session was convened to approve the budget before it is laid before Parliament.He reiterated that security remains the foundation of national stability and governance.

During his remarks, the prime minister acknowledged that the government had to impose taxes in previous budgets due to both national requirements and obligations under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.

He stated that these measures were necessary to stabilise the economy and create space for long-term development, even though they placed significant burden on the common people.He also thanked the citizens of Pakistan for their patience in enduring inflationary pressures.

PM Shehbaz highlighted that inflation had dropped significantly from around 38 percent in the past two years to single digits, though it had seen a slight rise recently due to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.He further noted improvements in monetary indicators, mentioning that the policy interest rate had declined from 22.5 percent to 11 percent during this period, although it was later increased again due to external pressures linked to the US-Iran conflict.

At the beginning of his address, the prime minister also paid tribute to martyrs who lost their lives in the line of duty, including members from minority communities such as Christians.He described meeting their families as an emotional moment.

Overall, the meeting reflected the government’s focus on balancing security concerns, economic stabilisation, and fiscal responsibilities ahead of the upcoming budget presentation.