Budget announcement may be delayed

ISLAMABAD: The government is contemplating upon different options either to delay the budget or get powers from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to any designated federal minister for chairing the next National Economic Council (NEC) meeting for approving development outlay and macroeconomic indicators for next budget.

One option is that the upcoming budget 2016-17 may be delayed for few days because of Nawaz Sharif’s prolonged stay at UK on health grounds. The second option is that the PM grants power to any federal minister for chairing the next NEC and federal cabinet meetings for approving the budget.

When contacted, a former cabinet secretary said the NEC is regulated under Article 156 of the Constitution but these clauses are silent in case of absence of prime minister. However, the Rules of Business applied for the cabinet also become effective for the NEC. According to section 20 and 23 of the Rules of Business of 1973, the PM can designate any minister for chairing the cabinet meeting.

Earlier, the government finalised the next budget announcement on June 3 into the Parliament House. The NEC was proposed to be held on May 30 for granting approval to upcoming development outlays as well as macroeconomic targets for next financial year 2016-17. 

“Nothing has so far been finalised as the NEC may be delayed for few days. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has been making contacts with the premier to take final decision on this subject,” official sources told The News.

Earlier, Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal told reporters that it was not yet known that when the NEC meeting would be held as the finance minister was making contact with the premier to ascertain details of his return.