The federal cabinet has approved the drafts of the Defence Forces Act, 2026 and amendments to the National Command Authority Act, 2010, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said on Wednesday.
According to the PMO, the Defence Forces Act has been drafted in continuation of changes introduced through the 27th Constitutional Amendment and will deal with administrative matters relating to the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and the CDF Headquarters.
The proposed amendments to the National Command Authority Act have also been prepared following the constitutional changes. Both bills will now be presented before Parliament for approval during its ongoing session.
The 27th Amendment abolished the post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and created the office of Chief of Defence Forces, which is held concurrently by the Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir. It also established the position of Commander of the National Strategic Command.
The cabinet meeting also saw Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif once again invite the opposition for meaningful and constructive dialogue.
Addressing the meeting, the prime minister said the government was ready to hold talks aimed at promoting economic progress and strengthening democracy.
He said the government had repeatedly expressed willingness to engage with the opposition, adding that it was now up to the opposition to agree to constructive negotiations.
The government and opposition have remained at odds since the 2024 general elections, with the PTI demanding investigations into the May 9, 2023 and November 26, 2024 protests.
Recent contacts between government and opposition representatives have focused on political issues, including the appointment of the chief election commissioner. The two sides have agreed to continue consultations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also welcomed the reduction of around Rs32 per litre in the price of diesel, attributing the relief to efforts by the petroleum ministry.
He said the government had faced significant challenges due to disruptions in fuel supplies amid the conflict involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
The prime minister said the federal government had earlier allocated Rs128 billion from the Public Sector Development Programme to provide relief to the public, with provinces also contributing to the effort.
He expressed hope that the regional situation would improve in the coming weeks and said Pakistan would continue efforts to provide relief to consumers.
