The federal government is considering the possibility of further extending the date for presenting the federal budget, sources in the Ministry of Finance revealed on Thursday.
Currently, the budget presentation is scheduled for June 10. However, with June 7 and 8 declared official holidays for Eidul Adha, government sources said it would be necessary to declare June 9 — the third day of Eid — a working day to meet the timeline.
The economic survey, a key precursor to the budget, is also slated for release on June 9. At the same time, the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, which brings together the chief ministers of the four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, is scheduled to take place on the same day.
Sources indicated that holding both the NEC meeting and the economic survey release on June 9 would be difficult. Traditionally, a two-day interval is maintained between the NEC meeting and the budget presentation to allow for finalisation of the development programme.
“The government can extend the budget presentation date by two days if required,” said sources close to the Ministry of Finance. However, Khurram Shahzad, advisor to the finance minister, clarified that no official decision had yet been taken on further postponement.
The NEC meeting plays a crucial role in finalising development plans and policies, and participation from regional leadership is considered essential.
With the Eidul Adha holidays compressing the schedule, officials are deliberating how to manage the key economic events without compromising procedural requirements.
The government had initially announced June 10 as the budget presentation date, but ongoing discussions suggest that adjustments remain possible depending on administrative feasibility.
