KP Budget Announcement: A Move To Sabotage IMF Talks: Minister Of State For Finance And Revenue Ali Pervaiz Malik

Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Ali Pervaiz Malik on Friday accused the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Government of attempting to sabotage the ongoing talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by presenting its budget for 2024-25 ahead of the federal budget.

Addressing a press conference, Ali Pervaiz Malik claimed that the KP Government’s move was aimed at political gains, demonstrating a lack of seriousness towards the economic challenges faced by the country.

He emphasized that there was no precedent for any province announcing its budget before the federal budget in the past. Malik criticized the KP government for basing its budget on assumptions, as the Federal Government had not yet shared figures regarding revenue generation and the provinces’ shares as per the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.

Ali Pervaiz Malik highlighted that the Federal Government was already protecting vulnerable segments of the population through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and the Utility Stores Corporation (USC).

He urged the KP Government to better coordinate and work together with the Federal Government in the larger national interest and for the welfare of the people of the province.