Cabinet approves key defence bills; PM renews talks offer to opposition

During a federal cabinet meeting on Thursday, the government approved drafts of two significant bills: the Defence Forces Act, 2026, and amendments to the National Command Authority Act, 2010. Both bills were subsequently passed by the National Assembly and the Senate.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the legislation provides the administrative framework for the office of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), a post created by the 27th Constitutional Amendment enacted in November of last year. The amendment replaced the office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee with the CDF, a position concurrently held by the chief of army staff, currently Field Marshal Asim Munir.

In the same cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also renewed his invitation to the opposition for dialogue, stating the government was ready for "meaningful negotiations."

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and opposition leader Barrister Gohar Khan held a meeting in the Assembly Hall on Thursday, August 20, according to available reports.

The meeting follows the prime minister's recent offer of dialogue to the opposition to resolve national issues.

Barrister Gohar has responded to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's recent offer for dialogue, according to reports on August 20. The specifics of the opposition's response have not yet been made public.

In response to the prime minister's offer, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has responded to the proposed dialogue.