Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari Warns of National Assembly Budget Boycott
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has expressed significant concerns over the federal budget to Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. Bhutto-Zardari indicated he would not participate in the ongoing budget debate in the National Assembly unless the party's reservations are addressed. The PPP claims the current budget differs from figures shared during pre-budget consultations and questions the capacity of provinces to meet IMF-linked revenue targets. Another round of discussions between the two leaders is anticipated soon.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari conveyed his concerns regarding the federal budget to Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar during a meeting on Tuesday. Bhutto-Zardari indicated that he would not deliver his speech during the ongoing budget debate in the National Assembly unless all of the party’s reservations were addressed.
The PPP chairman was accompanied by senior party leaders, including Sherry Rehman, Naveed Qamar, Raja Pervez Ashraf, and Ijaz Jakhrani, at the Parliament House meeting. Sources close to the PPP stated that Bhutto-Zardari expressed displeasure, asserting that the budget presented was different from the document shared with the party during pre-budget consultations.
Key concerns raised by the PPP include the claim that the budget deviates from previously agreed-upon figures. The party also questioned the capacity of provinces to meet additional revenue targets, reportedly around Rs430 billion, that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked the federal government to introduce. The PPP leaders asked Deputy Prime Minister Dar for suggestions on how provinces could increase their tax revenues.
Discussions during the meeting also encompassed expenditure priorities, development spending, including the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), and broader economic issues such as fiscal sustainability, public welfare, development initiatives, and inclusive growth. The PPP opposed the imposition of new taxes, advocating instead for strategies to broaden the tax base to avoid burdening the same segments of the population.
Following the meeting, Bhutto-Zardari expressed optimism that the party's concerns would be resolved, noting that another round of talks with Dar is expected soon. He also conveyed confidence that the PPP would form its government in Gilgit-Baltistan after recent elections.
According to Dawn Pakistan, several rounds of talks have already taken place between the PPP leadership and the deputy prime minister on the budget issue in recent weeks.
