The federal government has rescheduled the presentation of the budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 to June 10, moving it from the original date of June 5. This delay is attributed to the need for extended consultations with coalition partners to ensure consensus on budgetary matters.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry explained that coalition administrations often face the dual challenge of preparing the budget and securing the backing of allied parties. He emphasized that the postponement is not related to the upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan elections, dismissing any speculation linking the two events.
In a significant development, the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, initially scheduled for Wednesday under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has also been deferred. The NEC session was expected to review and approve federal and provincial development programs for the next fiscal year, as well as finalize key spending priorities ahead of the budget announcement.
The council was slated to consider a combined federal and provincial development outlay amounting to Rs4.715 trillion for FY 2026-27. Notably, the federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) allocation was anticipated to increase by Rs200 billion, rising from Rs1.126 trillion to approximately Rs1.326 trillion.
The meeting was to include chief ministers of all four provinces, provincial finance ministers, and the prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. However, no official explanation has been provided for the NEC meeting’s postponement, and a new date remains unconfirmed as consultations on the budget and development plans continue.
Addressing the political dynamics within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Chaudhry remarked that tensions between factions led by Ali Amin Gandapur and Sohail Afridi have escalated. He urged PTI leaders to resolve their internal conflicts before focusing on external issues such as Gilgit-Baltistan.
Chaudhry further asserted that if the federal government intervened, the provincial government under Sohail Afridi could be toppled within two days. He also praised the Pakistan Peoples Party as a dependable coalition ally, highlighting its ongoing positive working relationship with the federal government.
Following these developments, the federal budget presentation is now set for June 10, allowing additional time for coordination and agreement among coalition partners.
