Finance Minister Asad Umar sets a new precedent in the political history of Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD - Finance Minister Asad Umar has set a new precedent in the political history of Pakistan.
His decision to return his discretionary powers to the federal cabinet to grant money during course of the fiscal year would ensure implementation of a historic judgment of Supreme Court in letter and spirit.
In its last year in power, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had sanctioned Rs860 billion worth supplementary grants.
The move to seek prior cabinet approval will also ensure better budget planning, as the government has even barred transfer of money from one approved budget head to another of a ministry without the approval of the cabinet.
The bureaucrats of the Planning Ministry blatantly misused this facility to fund politically-pet schemes by diverting funds from other projects.
The Finance Ministry has issued an office memorandum to all the ministries and divisions, directing them to seek approval of the cabinet on all cases of supplementary and technical supplementary grants.
