The National Assembly has approved 125 demands for grants for the upcoming financial year, moving forward with the federal budget following a session where all cut motions were rejected. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb introduced the grants, which cover a wide range of ministries and departments, including the Cabinet Secretariat and the energy sector.
What was approved in the latest session?
The National Assembly greenlit 125 separate demands for grants, according to official proceedings. This total includes 89 grants that faced no cut motions, covering entities such as the National Security Division, the Intelligence Bureau, and the Higher Education Commission. Additionally, the House approved 18 grants for the Cabinet Secretariat and six specific to the energy sector, alongside 12 grants for the Finance Division. According to Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, the government remains confident in meeting tax revenue targets for the new fiscal year, noting that no new taxes have been imposed and 450 billion rupees have been recovered through litigation.
How will energy sector reforms affect consumers?
Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari outlined significant shifts in how electricity is managed, stating the government has reduced the Power Division’s financial burden by 587 billion rupees over the last two years. A key change for the public is the planned end of economic load-shedding. Currently, 3,500 out of 14,500 feeders face periodic power cuts to manage losses. Minister Leghari stated that the Prime Minister has decided to abolish this practice by next year, shifting the focus to restricting power only on specific loss-making transformers rather than shutting down entire feeders. The Minister added that uninterrupted supply will be prioritized for consumers who maintain a regular bill payment record.
What happens next for bureaucratic and investment policy?
The government is preparing to implement structural changes following the finalization of bureaucratic reform proposals. According to Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, a committee led by Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has completed these proposals, which await approval from the Prime Minister. Regarding national investment, the administration expects billions of dollars in inflows from GCC countries, building on gains already seen in agriculture, mining, and industrial sectors through the Special Investment Facilitation Council. The National Assembly is scheduled to reconvene tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. to continue its legislative agenda.
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