On Thursday, the federal cabinet approved draft bills on Pakistan’s military and nuclear command structures. The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed the development after a cabinet meeting in Islamabad. Cabinet members approved drafts of the Defense Forces Act, 2026 and amended National Command Authority Act, 2010.
Highlights
- Cabinet approves National Command Authority Act, 2026 and amended Defense Forces Act
- Both bills are in line with the changes made by the 27th Constitutional Amendment
- PM Shehbaz extends invitation for talks to opposition again
- Diesel prices fall by Rs32 a liter on Petroleum Ministry’s efforts
- IT exports rise 18% in July, PM lauds Google’s new Pakistan office
- New Bills Come After Last Year’s Constitutional Changes
The Federal Cabinet today approved the draft of the Defence Forces Act, 2026.
The draft aims to determine the relevant administrative matters regarding the office of the Chief of Defence Forces and the Chief of Defence Forces Headquarters.
The Cabinet also approved amendments… pic.twitter.com/grVXgNgryw
— The STRATCOM Bureau (@OSPSF) August 20, 2026
The Defense Forces Act elaborated on changes to the Constitution under the 27th Amendment. The PMO says it intends to resolve administrative issues related to the office of the Chief of Defense Forces and its headquarters. The amendments in the National Command Authority Act were called an inevitable follow-up of the same constitutional change. Both drafts will be presented to parliament in its current session, which began August 17, after President Asif Ali Zardari summoned it about a week ago.
Pakistan’s higher defense structure changed significantly with the passage of the 27th Amendment last November. It abolished the post of Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Instead, it created the office of Chief of Defense Forces, a position currently held along with the chief of the army. Under the new structure, Field Marshal Asim Munir became the country’s first Chief of Defense Forces. The amendment also created the Commander of the National Strategic Command, a four-star appointment for Pakistan’s strategic forces. Last month, PM Shehbaz appointed Gen. Syed Aamer Raza to this position, making him the first officer to hold this office. And that appointment is one reason the National Command Authority Act, which still reflects the old military hierarchy, now needs updating.
PM again extends dialogue offer to opposition
During the cabinet meeting, PM Shehbaz also offered to hold talks with the opposition again. He said the government is still open to meaningful negotiations. He said that Islamabad has always been open to dialogue with the opposition parties. From this forum, he once again invited the opposition for talks, framing the offer in terms of supporting Pakistan’s economic progress and strengthening democracy. He said dialogue requires participation from both sides and now it is up to the opposition how soon they will agree to sit down.
Relations between the government and opposition have been fraught with tension since the 2024 elections. The PTI has demanded a judicial commission to investigate the violent protests of May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024. The 2023 unrest came after Khan’s arrest and the 2024 protest in Islamabad to demand his release. There have been other issues adding to the friction since then, including concerns over Khan’s health in custody.
Days after the government told the opposition that its door is still open, Shehbaz renewed his offer. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said during a Senate session: The real solution is seriousness on both sides, Chaudhry said. On the same day, presidential advisor Rana Sanaullah, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Chaudhry also met opposition leaders Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas. The two sides spoke about the appointment of the chief election commissioner and the broader political situation and agreed to continue to meet in the future. Chaudhry later said that Achakzai had written to the prime minister for a constitutional consultative meeting and a reply was expected within two days.
The political developments come as PPP, a coalition partner of the PML-N, has initiated formal contact with the PTI. The contact comes amid tension in the ruling coalition following recent Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections.
PM cites economic successes including falling diesel prices
Shehbaz also used the cabinet meeting to point to recent economic progress. He said diesel prices have gone down by some Rs32 per liter due to efforts of the petroleum ministry. He called it good news, especially with the ongoing disruptions to fuel supply related to the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas shipments, which is being affected by the US-Israeli war on Iran.
He said the federal government had taken a Rs128 billion hit when it slashed the Public Sector Development Program budget to provide relief when the war first began. Later provinces joined in that relief effort. He urged continued assistance to ordinary people wherever possible, saying that as a net energy importer Pakistan is particularly vulnerable to regional instability. He said Pakistan is trying to control the situation and he is hopeful that things will improve in the coming weeks.
Shehbaz also mentioned the recently launched Retailer Scheme App and said that the FBR has been directed to take strict punitive action against anyone who harasses the traders who have joined the scheme. He also appreciated the efforts of Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani for taking the scheme to the traders. IT exports rose 18 percent in July, he said, calling it a big achievement, and cited the opening of Google’s first office in Pakistan earlier this month as a step forward in the country’s broader digitization push.
