LAHORE: The government and the opposition in Punjab have agreed in principle that the national and provincial assemblies should be dissolved on the same day, possibly on March 16, so that national and provincial elections could be held in the country simultaneously.

After reaching an understanding, the treasury and opposition agreed in a meeting of the business advisory committee on Tuesday that the farewell session of the Punjab Assembly should be held on March 13 and the end of the legislature’s term should be made a ‘cordial affair’ without any bitterness.

Speaker Rana Iqbal, Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhood, Leader of Opposition Raja Riaz and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah attended the meeting.

“Yes we have decided in principle that the National and Punjab assemblies should be dissolved on the same day so that general elections could be held simultaneously,” Rana Mashhood told Dawn after the meeting.

Earlier, the PML-N had shown reluctance in dissolving the Punjab Assembly and the National Assembly on the same day. The constitutional tenure of the provincial assembly will be completed on April 8 and of the NA on March 16.

Rana Mashhood said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif would make a final decision about the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly. He said the committee had also decided that the last session of the assembly would be held in a “cordial atmosphere” next week.

A photo session of all lawmakers will be held. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Leader of Opposition Raja Riaz and PML-Q parliamentary leader Chaudhry Zaheeruddin will address the session.