The NA session on the mini-budget is currently in progress.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – The Finance (Supplemental) Bill 2021 is presently being debated in the National Assembly.

The supplementary finance bill must be approved in order for Pakistan’s sixth review of the $6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFE) to be approved by the IMF’s Executive Board, which is set to convene later this month to vote on the delivery of a $1 billion tranche.

During the proceedings, the PPP proposed an amendment to the supplementary budget, and the Speaker cast an oral vote on the modification, which the opposition contested. The NA speaker urged the voters to support the amendment. The amendment received 150 votes in favour and 168 votes against it.

Rs 350 billion in new taxes

Speaking in the Lower House of Parliament, senior PML-N leader and former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin should explain why there was a need for a mini-budget, whether revenue had decreased or expenditure had increased, and whether an additional burden of Rs 350 billion would be imposed on the people, while petrol and power tariffs were being increased every month.

It is economic documentation.

In response to Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s question, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin stated that the mini-budget is not a tax storm, and that Rs 200 billion of the Rs 343 billion will be reimbursed.

“This is not a tax, but a documentation of the economy,” he said and added everyone will know how much who earned.

Orders for production

During the session, National Assembly member Mohsin Dawar inquired as to why Ali Wazir’s production order had not been given. He stated that the opposition had collectively asked the release of Ali Wazir’s production order, and that Wasziristan had been denied its right.