Debate on budget 2024-25 begins in NA amid PPP reservations
Pakistan
The NA session began at 5pm for which a two-point agenda had been issued
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The National Assembly session to debate the federal budget 2024-25 gets under way as the opposition has decided to stage a strong protest during the session.
The session began at 5pm for which a two-point agenda had been issued.
It is learnt that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), who is an ally of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), will not take part in discussion due to differences with the government over announcement of the budget without consultation with it.
Meanwhile, the PPP insiders said Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was likely to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss his party’s reservations over the federal budget before the start of the session.
They said the PML-N had not made any serious effort to address their grievances. Therefore, the party had not committed to participating in the debate, they added.
As per parliamentary tradition, Opposition Leader Omar Ayub will open the general debate on the budget today. According to an agreement among the parties’ representatives in a meeting with Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on June 6, the assembly will continue the debate on the budget until June 24.
The members will take part in the debate and vote on cut motions on June 26 and 27, and the budget is expected to be passed on June 28.
However, the assembly secretariat had said that this plan was not final and could be changed according to the situation.
