Budget presentation may shift to June 8 or 12
Shahzad Paracha:
Islamabad:The National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, originally scheduled for tomorrow under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has been postponed, prompting expectations of changes to the federal budget timeline. A new date for the meeting will be announced later.
The government has decided to change the schedule of the National Economic Council meeting. The meeting was earlier scheduled to be held tomorrow under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s chairmanship.
Officials said the new date for the NEC meeting will be announced later.
Development budget approval delayed
The National Economic Council was expected to approve a national development budget of Rs4,715 billion. Sources said there is a strong possibility that the federal development budget will be increased from Rs1,126 billion to Rs1,326 billion.
The proposed increase would raise the federal Public Sector Development Programme by Rs200 billion.
The postponement of the NEC meeting is also likely to affect the schedule of the federal budget session.
According to sources, the budget for the next fiscal year may now be presented in the National Assembly on June 8 or June 12. The Senate and National Assembly secretariats have not yet issued notifications for convening the budget session.
Cabinet, Establishment divisions get proposed allocations
Budget documents show an estimated allocation of Rs72.7 billion for the Cabinet Division and Establishment Division. The PSDP 2026-27 includes several development projects under both divisions.
Of the total amount, members of parliament are expected to spend Rs70 billion on development projects under the Sustainable Development Goals programme.
In addition to the SDGs programme, Rs2 billion of the Cabinet Division will also be spent on development projects.
Establishment Division projects included
An estimated Rs1.7 billion has been allocated for Establishment Division projects. The documents show that Rs56 million has been proposed for the upgradation of Parliament Lodges.
A total of Rs5.5 billion will be spent on the rehabilitation and upgradation of the National Archives of Pakistan project.
Recommended funds of Rs194 million have been proposed for the upgradation of the solar energy system and energy-saving project.
More than Rs1.58 billion has been recommended for the Islamabad Technopolis project. More than Rs700 million has been proposed for the Federal Public Service Commission’s project to digitize the examination system.
The documents also propose Rs167 million for a working women’s hostel project in Islamabad. More than Rs820 million has been estimated for a project to provide residential facilities for women officers.
These allocations form part of the Cabinet and Establishment divisions’ development portfolio for the next fiscal year.
Budget timing remains uncertain
With the NEC meeting delayed and budget session notifications still pending, the final schedule for the federal budget remains uncertain.
However, sources say June 8 or June 12 are now likely dates for presenting the next fiscal year’s budget in the National Assembly.
