PPP Excluded from Federal Budget Consultations by PML-N Government

The Pakistan Peoples Party was not consulted by the ruling PML-N-led government regarding the upcoming 2024-25 federal budget, despite being a coalition partner. PPP leader Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah expressed concerns over the lack of communication and transparency. The budget will be presented on June 12.

In a surprising turn of events, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) disclosed that it was not consulted during the formulation of the upcoming federal budget for the financial year 2024-25, despite being a crucial coalition partner with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government. This revelation was made public through a media report on Sunday.

The budget is scheduled to be presented on June 12. Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, a prominent PPP leader, criticized the lack of communication from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's PML-N government, stating, 'Neither told us anything related to the budget nor took us into confidence.' Shah also raised concerns about the government's approach to privatisation policy, taxes, and developmental programs.

The disclosure comes after the controversial general elections of February 8 that led to the formation of a coalition government between the PML-N and PPP under strained circumstances. Shah emphasized the need for the inclusion of PPP's proposals in the budget, adding political scrutiny would be essential for the decisions to be rendered about the budget.