The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has stated that it will make sure to take the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) into confidence prior to the budget 2024–25 being passed, in response to strong objections from its ally.
“At present, these are budget proposals. There will be conversations about them both in the parliament and outside of it,” PML-N’s Punjab president and adviser to the prime minister on political affairs, Rana Sanaullah, said to media in Faisalabad.
Only a few PPP legislators showed up for the session, indicating their “token attendance,” despite Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar’s efforts to persuade the party’s leadership to guarantee their attendance.
PPP leaders had voiced their dissatisfaction even prior to the budget, claiming they were allies and wondering whether the government intended them to voice their objections on the assembly floor. They were also annoyed that they had not been consulted regarding the budget ideas.
While acknowledging the PPP’s complaints, Sanaullah pointed out that their worries were legitimate and that they hadn’t really been consulted at all. “Yes, there were certain shortcomings on our end. But the budget hasn’t been decided upon yet; suggestions are still being accepted.”
Shortly before Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb unveiled the budget for the upcoming fiscal year on June 12, the PPP—a former PML-N ally as well—made the decision to abstain from the National Assembly meeting.
