The government has decided to secure parliamentary approval for the federal budget before the observance of Ashura, with plans to continue the ongoing budget session without interruption until the Finance Bill is passed.
According to sources, the budget session, which begins today, will proceed continuously from June 12 onward. The government is also considering suspending the customary Saturday and Sunday holidays to ensure the budget process remains on schedule.
Officials told ProPakistani that the target is to obtain approval for the federal budget on either June 23 or June 24, ahead of the Ashura period in Muharram.
Government Seeks Timely Passage of Finance Bill
The decision reflects the government’s intention to avoid delays in the legislative process during a sensitive religious period while ensuring that all parliamentary requirements related to the Finance Bill are completed within a limited timeframe.
The administration is currently working under significant fiscal pressure as it prepares the budget for the upcoming financial year. Key challenges include meeting ambitious revenue targets, finalizing expenditure allocations, and maintaining coordination with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on various budgetary measures.
Budget Calendar Faces Tight Deadlines
In recent days, uncertainty has surrounded the broader budget schedule, with several important economic meetings being rescheduled amid discussions on provincial transfers, development spending priorities, and the allocation of resources for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
Against this backdrop, the decision to hold uninterrupted budget sittings appears aimed at ensuring the smooth passage of the Finance Bill before the commencement of major Muharram observances and avoiding any disruption to the budget approval process.
