LAHORE, April 4: President Asif Ali Zardari has said the government is aware of peoples’ problems, but domestic and international situation has forced it to take tough decisions to secure better future for the coming generations.

Talking to PPP Punjab legislators at Governor’s House on Wednesday, he said the PPP always worked in difficult circumstances. He said the PPP believed in policy of reconciliation and tolerance. “It was due to this policy that the 1973 Constitution was restored to its original form and the government achieved many other milestones.”

The president said the PPP continued efforts to strengthen democracy and democratic institutions. He said democratic values were taking roots in the country as a result of PPP’s efforts.

He said his party respected the mandate of other parties and would go to next elections on the basis of its performance.

Earlier, some MPAs apprised the president of their problems. The president assured them that the federal government would solve their problems.

Earlier, Governor Latif Khosa and other PPP leaders received him at the old airport.

PML-N Information Secretary Mushahidullah Khan told Dawn it could not welcome the Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman.

To a question whether the PML-N had any plan to march on the Governor’s House to protest against loadshedding and increase in petroleum prices, he said the PML-N believed in ‘peaceful demonstration’.

Meanwhile, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif has returned from Dubai while Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is in London.

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...