ISLAMABAD: The federal government is likely to delay the budget announcement for fiscal year 2026-27, with the budget now expected to be presented on June 10 or June 12, sources said.
According to sources, the budget was originally expected to be presented on June 5, but the schedule may be revised due to ongoing consultations and procedural developments.
Sources said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has postponed the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting that was scheduled to take place before the budget. They added that the NEC meeting is unlikely to be held before the Gilgit-Baltistan elections.
The meeting, initially expected on June 3, is now likely to be convened on June 8, sources said.
Officials added that further rounds of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are expected as the government seeks additional fiscal space and relief measures in the upcoming budget.
Sources further said that a final decision regarding the new budget presentation date is expected to be announced later today.
Meanwhile, the official notification for the National Assembly’s budget session has yet to be issued. Although the Presidency’s spokesperson had earlier announced that the budget session would be convened on June 5, National Assembly Secretariat officials said they have not yet received the formal summons.
Officials said members of parliament cannot be formally informed until the notification is issued, adding that the Presidency has indicated that an update on the matter is expected by the evening.
Government sources maintained that June 5 had never been finalized as the budget presentation date and that the final schedule would be determined after consultations with the prime minister.
