**Rewritten Article:**
**ISLAMABAD:** The purported disagreements between PML-N and PPP regarding the upcoming fiscal year's budget were resolved on Thursday after PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari assured Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of his party's support for the crucial finance bill.
Sources disclosed that all differences have been ironed out, with both parties committing to mutual support and cooperation on shared issues. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar indicated that minor reservations expressed by the PPP would be addressed through dialogue with the government.
A committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has been formed by the government to engage with the PPP, continuing discussions following the meeting between Shehbaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
PPP sources indicated that the Prime Minister largely agreed with the party chairman on most issues, following Bhutto-Zardari's displeasure over the bypassing of PPP in budgetary matters. Bhutto-Zardari emphasized that PPP's cooperation with the government was contingent on agreements that PML-N had not fully honored. The Prime Minister has also established a committee to resolve these discrepancies.
During their meeting, Bhutto-Zardari conveyed to the Prime Minister his concerns regarding the obstacles created by the PML-N government in Punjab for PPP. Insider information suggests that a meeting between government and party committees is likely to take place on Friday to progress following the PM-Bilawal meeting.
It's worth noting that PPP has expressed dissatisfaction with PML-N's proposed privatization plan for state-owned entities and has reservations about the development budget.
Following the Finance Minister's budget speech last week, PPP's Vice President Sherry Rehman stated in a press release that PPP had agreed to support the government formation in February in the "national interest" after extensive negotiations. She emphasized that as per their understanding with PML-N, the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for all provinces was to be pre-agreed with the government.
A statement issued by the PM's Office post-meeting stated that a PPP delegation led by its chairman met with the Prime Minister on Thursday. The Prime Minister highlighted that the budget aimed to alleviate poverty and urged allied parties to collaborate.
"The Prime Minister emphasized that the country's macroeconomic indicators show positive growth, with the historic stock market boom endorsing the government's budget among the business community," the statement added. PM Shehbaz stressed the importance of all political parties working together for national development, prosperity, and public welfare. He noted that the 2024-25 budget included measures to provide maximum relief to the people.
The PPP delegation included Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Syed Khursheed Shah, Syed Naveed Qamar, and Sherry Rehman. The meeting was attended by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, PM's aide Rana Sanaullah, Minister of State for Finance Ali Pervaiz Malik, and Khawaja Saad Rafique.
**PPP-PML-N Alliance**
PPP remains a major ally of the PML-N coalition government but opted not to join the federal cabinet, instead securing key constitutional positions such as the presidency, Senate chairmanship, and governorships of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
On the day of the budget session, PPP initially boycotted, citing lack of consultation, but eventually sent three MNAs as symbolic representation after prolonged discussions with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, which delayed the session by over an hour.
On Thursday, PM Shehbaz assured Bhutto-Zardari of addressing PPP's concerns promptly, aiming to maintain cordial relations and avoid further discord.
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