Pakistan Budget Deadlock: Key Economic Council Meet Postponed For Third Time Amid IMF Pressure
Pakistan’s annual budget process has hit a major roadblock after the Economic Council meeting was postponed for the third time amid a lack of consensus
Pakistan’s annual budget process has hit a major roadblock after the Economic Council meeting was postponed for the third time amid a lack of consensus over key economic targets. The meeting, expected to be chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by the chief ministers of all four provinces, was meant to approve development budgets and economic priorities.
However, disagreements over spending limits, revenue sharing, provincial allocations and budget cuts have delayed the process again. According to sources, the Shehbaz government is caught between pressure from the International Monetary Fund to tighten spending and expand the tax base, and resistance from provinces over proposed cuts in their share.
The federal government is also facing rising defence-related expenditure demands, adding to the fiscal pressure. The repeated delay highlights Pakistan’s deepening economic and political crisis as Islamabad struggles to balance IMF conditions, provincial demands and internal budget priorities.
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