With eyes on IMF bailout, FinMin Aurangzeb unveils federal budget 2024-25 M Haris

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is presenting the federal budget 2024-25 as the government eyes to secure a long-term International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout.

Aurangzeb, a first-time finance minister, unveiled the budget in the National Assembly amid a noisy protest by the opposition lawmakers belonging to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council — who stood on their desks and raised anti-government slogans. 

“Despite the financial and political challenges during the past one year, the government’s progress on the economic front has been impressive,” the finance minister said in his opening remarks.

“We have heard the talk of all political parties to sit together in the country’s interest several times. Today, the nature has provided Pakistan with another chance to walk on the path of economic progress and we can’t afford to waste this opportunity,” he said while requesting all the MNAs to cooperate with the government putting the country on the path of progress. 

The NA session is chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is also in the attendance.

More to follow…