KARACHI: Contrary to past practices, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has not approached trade and industry leadership for taking their input for the upcoming budget to be unveiled on June 9. Site Association of Industry (SAI) president Riazuddin told Dawn that traditionally successive governments used to engage the business community in the budget-making process by holding consultative sessions with apex chambers, businessmen, industrialists, etc. We do not know whether the budget will be made on IMF dictation or the government is undertaking this exercise independently,” he observed. While showing his concerns, Federation of Pakistan Cham­bers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh said the government has not yet started the consultative process with the business community in general and the apex body in particular. He emphasised that the government’s economic and financial team must be crystal clear now that the IMF programme is not going to materialise before the upcoming budget.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 14, 2023 13:02 UTC