PM calls ‘key’ party meeting before mini-budget

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has summoned an important consultative meeting of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s parliamentary body before they table mini-budget in the Parliament on Wednesday, ARY News reported.

PM Khan has called the meeting at 11am tomorrow (Wednesday).

The premier will chair the meeting that will be briefed by Finance Minister Asad Umar. The party has directed all relevant members to ensure their presence in the key meeting.

It is expected that the PTI will also finalize its strategy to tackle the looming opposition protest against the government.

The finance minister on Jan 11 announced that his party would unveil the mini budget about two weeks later. The PTI-led federal government is presenting the mini-budget in order to introduce a comprehensive economic plan for the next three years. It had already announced a mini- budget in September last year.

The incumbent government intends to bring the third finance bill in the parliament to achieve tax collection targets.

Earlier, on Jan 10, the minister said the country’s trade deficit had reduced due to a rise in foreign remittances and exports.

The minister said the government was in contact with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but they were not in a hurry for the IMF package. “We will sign an agreement that suits the country’s economy.”