ISLAMABAD: The government will convene a session of the National Assembly where the Finance Supplementary Bill 2021 (mini-budget) will be presented. The approval will allow Pakistan to receive the $1 billion tranche from the International Monetary Funds (IMF). A meeting on January 12 is scheduled to finalise the disbursement of the amount.
The 48-point agenda given by the National Assembly Secretariat included a motion on spot 39 for the approval of the mini-budget. On December 30, the supplementary bill was introduced in National Assembly, after which it was sent to the Senate Standing Committee for recommendations. The mini-budget aims to generate Rs343 billion (0.6 per cent of GDP) through sales tax exemptions.
An attempt to block the way for mini-budget approval is expected from the opposition parties’ members. The opposition leaders claim the incumbent government is surrendering Pakistan through these bills and these reforms will cause more damage to the country.