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Budget session of National Assembly today at 5 pm


Budget 2024-25

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly (NA) is set to convene on Wednesday (today) at 4 pm for the budget session.

The session presided over by NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. The National Assembly Secretariat previously released a 4-point agenda for the session, with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb slated to present the budget and related documents, including the finance bill 2024-25.

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However, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) expressed serious concerns over not being consulted regarding the upcoming fiscal year’s budget. Chairing a parliamentary party meeting in Islamabad, PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari voiced apprehensions about their exclusion from budget discussions.

The PPP issued a deadline for consultation and scheduled another parliamentary committee meeting for 2:30 pm, an hour and half before the budget session. Members stated the need for relief measures for the public and criticised the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for not involving them in budget preparations.

While the PPP reiterated its support for democracy and the government, it said that public interests cannot be “compromised”. PPP leader Khurshid Shah talked about the lack of consultation on budget matters, expressing dismay over being kept in the dark.

The PPP spokesperson, Shazia Marri, reiterated the party’s concerns about the “federal government’s attitude” towards them. She said the importance of consultation and expressed disappointment over the government’s failure to fulfill agreements.

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Marri talked about the need for “responsible governance” and urged the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to address their concerns.

The PPP intends to provide input based on its manifesto and expects the government to act responsibly to avoid potential protests.

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