Islamabad, Pakistan – Web Desk: Differences between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the federal government over budget proposals remain unresolved, with negotiations failing to achieve a breakthrough ahead of Pakistan’s federal budget presentation on June 10.
Sources said discussions held on Wednesday between the PPP and government representatives ended without significant progress. The matter is now expected to be taken up at the senior leadership level as both sides continue efforts to reach a consensus on key budgetary issues.
According to sources, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar is expected to meet PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari within the next few days to discuss outstanding concerns related to the federal budget.
Despite ongoing disagreements, government sources said the budget session will be convened on June 10 and the federal budget will be presented as scheduled, regardless of the outcome of the negotiations.
Officials also stated that the PPP has been assured that no major legislation will be introduced before the budget session. The budget is expected to be presented after a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), which is likely to take place following Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s return to Islamabad from Gilgit-Baltistan.
The federal budget was originally scheduled to be presented on June 5 but was postponed earlier this week. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said the government will seek to avoid imposing new taxes in the upcoming budget.
