Pakistan to unveil economic survey today as National Assembly clears federal budget schedule
KARACHI: Pakistan's finance chief, Muhammad Aurangzeb, will present the Economic Survey 2024-25 today, Monday, a day after the National Assembly approved the schedule for the upcoming federal budget, according to the state media.
Traditionally released a day before the budget announcement, the economic survey outlines key socio-economic achievements and shortfalls of an outgoing fiscal year. It serves as a snapshot of the country's economic performance across sectors such as agriculture, industry, services, energy, information technology and telecom, health, education and transport.
The annual document also reviews trends in major economic indicators including inflation, trade and payments, public debt, population, employment, climate change and social protection. Invitations for the launch ceremony at the Pakistan Secretariat in Islamabad were circulated by the finance ministry on Sunday.
'Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will release the Economic Survey 2024-25 at a ceremony to be held in Islamabad on Monday,' the Radio Pakistan reported.
Meanwhile, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency said Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq had approved the schedule for the upcoming budget sessions for the 2025–26 fiscal year.
According to the schedule, the federal budget will be presented on June 10, followed by a two-day recess. A general debate will begin on June 13 and continue through June 21, with time allocated for all parliamentary parties in line with Assembly rules.
No sitting will be held on June 22. Charged expenditures for the next fiscal year will be taken up on June 23, followed by discussions and voting on Demands for Grants and Cut Motions on June 24 and 25.
The Finance Bill 2025 is scheduled for a vote on June 26, and supplementary grants and related matters will be finalized on June 27.
The federal budget will be announced as Pakistan navigates a fragile economic recovery under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
The country's annual inflation rate rose to 3.5% in May, though officials say the macroeconomic outlook has improved on the back of a stronger current account balance and increased remittances.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal recently said the government had earmarked Rs1 trillion ($3.5 billion) for development projects in the upcoming budget.
Authorities have pledged to maintain macroeconomic stability, advance structural reforms and ensure growth translates into inclusive progress.
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