Islamabad - Pakistan’s federal budget is unlikely to be presented on June 5, according to a government source and reports from local media on Wednesday. Both the source and Geo News TV indicated the budget might instead be presented on June 10.
The individual who provided the information asked to remain anonymous, saying they were not authorised to disclose it. The source said the scheduled parliamentary session on June 5 will go ahead as planned, creating an opportunity for government and opposition figures to debate budget issues.
Officials have not formally announced a reason for the postponement. The anonymous source said the delay stems primarily from unresolved matters with the International Monetary Fund related to creating fiscal space. In particular, discussions are ongoing about certain funds the provinces would relinquish for federal spending, the source said.
Attempts to secure a comment from Pakistan’s finance ministry were not immediately successful. The source’s account and the media coverage left other specifics of the outstanding negotiations undefined.
Pakistan is currently operating under a $7 billion IMF bailout program. The article notes that the program has helped the country stabilise and recover, a point cited in the reporting on the budget timetable and the outstanding IMF discussions.
Context provided in the reporting focuses on three clear elements: the likely rescheduling of the budget presentation from June 5 to possibly June 10; the continuance of the June 5 parliamentary session for debate; and ongoing unresolved fiscal discussions with the IMF, including the allocation of certain provincial funds to federal spending. The finance ministry had not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting.