Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has said that ensuring well-being of general public will be accorded the utmost priority in next budget.

He expressed these views while chairing a high-level meeting in Islamabad on Saturday to review matters for federal budget 2017-18.

The Minister was briefed on preparation for the budget.

Ishaq Dar expressed his satisfaction with the preparations and directed the officials concerned to ensure that budget preparations are undertaken as per timelines with due consideration to the timing of the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.

He also stressed the need for close coordination between Ministry of Finance and other departments so as to carry out the budget exercise in an efficient and cohesive manner.