ISLAMABAD: Amidst prolonged negotiations with the International MonetaryFund (IMF), the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government has started thinkingabout delaying the next budget to the second week of June, it was learnt onTuesday.
“Instead of presenting federal budget for the financial year 2019-2020 onMay 22nd, as announced earlier by the government, the Ministry of Financehas started its consultation process with regard to presenting the budgeton June 11th or 12th, soon after Eidul Fitr,” sources privy to this mattertold Pakistan Today, adding that the ministry needed more time to finalisethe budget papers in light of the expected IMF programme.
Keeping in view the prolonged negotiation with the visiting IMF team, theministry has sought detail of the last 8 to 10 budgets to see thepossibilities of delaying the finance bill, sources said.
There have been examples in the past where the budget was presented inJune, sources said, adding that the previous budget was presented on June13th.
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“The government needs early finalization of the IMF programme so as to setthe projections/targets of the next fiscal budget,” sources maintained.
The ministry was earlier informed that the process of budget presentationwas needed to be completed before 20th Ramadan as most of the lawmakersspend last 10 days and Eid holidays in their constituencies or outside thecountry.
