Government to Present Budget on June 10 Amid Ongoing Talks with PPP

The federal government has decided to present the upcoming fiscal budget on June 10, even as differences with its key ally, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), over budget proposals reportedly persist.

Following a meeting with the PPP, Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb described the discussions as “very positive” and affirmed that a “purposeful budget” would be presented. He added that more meetings are scheduled for the end of this week, emphasizing the need to move forward with the consensus of the IMF, allies, and all stakeholders.

However, sources indicate that no significant progress has been made in the negotiations so far. The matter is now expected to be discussed at the senior leadership level, with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar scheduled to meet with PPP leaders Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto in the next two days.

The government remains firm on the June 10 budget session date, regardless of the outcome of the talks. The recent meeting was chaired by Deputy PM Dar and attended by Finance Minister Aurangzeb and Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani. The PPP delegation included Naveed Qamar and Sherry Rehman, with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah joining via video link.

The Finance Minister stated that the government’s priority is to improve tax collection through better enforcement and by broadening the tax net, rather than imposing new taxes. One participant in the talks noted that such pre-budget meetings on development and taxation are routine, while another described the initial meetings as neither a success nor a failure.