Islamabad: The federal government could postpone the presentation of the 2025-20126 budget, due to planning challenges linked to the UL ADHA Eid vacation, sources from the Ministry of Finance said on Thursday.
With Eid likely to fall on June 7 and 8 (Saturday and Sunday), officials suggest that June 9 – on the third day of Eid – can be declared working day to host key economic events.
According to the provisional calendar, the meeting of the National Council of the Economic Council (NEC) and the publication of the 2025 economic study are currently scheduled for June 9.
However, the sources of the Ministry of Finance indicate that it will be impossible to carry out both the NEC meeting and the launch of the economic study on June 9.
The NEC meeting, which generally extends all day, finalizes the federal and provincial development programs and is frequented by the chief ministers of the four provinces, the Prime Minister of Azad Cashmere and representatives of the Gilgit-Baltistan.
Traditionally, a two -day gap is observed between Reunion NEC and the formal presentation of the federal budget in Parliament. In light of this, officials suggest that the budget could now be presented on June 12, two days later as June 10 currently planned.
A few days ago, the federal government had postponed the budget presentation of June 2 initially scheduled, citing unresolved tax objectives in the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.
The talks between the government and the IMF resumed last week but did not give a breakthrough.
Meanwhile, the Federal Minister of Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb reported a tax relief for the salaried class, saying that the next federal budget will include measures to facilitate the financial burden of employees.
Speaking on Monday during an event in Islamabad, the Minister of Finance said that the government actively endeavored to reduce the tax burden to employees, adding that their income is imposed as soon as it is credited on their accounts.
He underlined the need for a strategic orientation in the budget, not just a state of income and expenses.
