Budget debate crosses 43 hours

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s ongoing debate on the federal budget has seen active participation from both sides of the aisle, with 184 Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) having spoken over the course of 43 hours and 21 minutes since the discussion began last Friday.

Originally, 30 hours were allocated for the debate — 20 hours and 49 minutes for the treasury benches, including allied parties, and 9 hours and 10 minutes for the opposition. However, as the discussions progressed, additional time was granted: five more hours to the opposition and five hours 26 minutes to the treasury, extending the total debate time beyond the initial allocation.

Till Thursday, 67 opposition members have spoken for a total of 17 hours and 35 minutes, while 117 treasury MNAs have taken up 25 hours and 26 minutes of the floor time.

With more members still slated to speak, the debate is expected to continue into the coming days, reflecting the intense scrutiny and political engagement surrounding the federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year.