ISLAMABAD: A meeting of both houses of Parliament has been convened today during which the government will present its money bill to meet the key demands of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
According to the agenda, the National Assembly will meet at 3:30 pm and Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar will present the Finance Supplementary Bill 2023 in the Lower House.
Agenda for today's session of the National Assembly.#NASession @AliyaKamranJUI @MIshaqDar50 @RTanveerPMLN @MurtazaJavedAbb @PTVNewsOfficial @appcsocialmedia @MoIB_Official pic.twitter.com/840LtaGuQX
— National Assembly of 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) February 15, 2023
Sources familiar with the legislation told JEE News that the bill is likely to be passed in one sitting today.
A meeting of the Senate has also been called for approval of the bill at 4:30 PM so that the document can be immediately sent to President Dr. Arif Alvi for approval.
Sources said that the President can stop the bill for 10 days, but he has assured Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to approve the bill soon after receiving it.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who did not attend the previous meeting, will be present in today’s meeting.
According to the publication, the government is contacting MLAs on an emergency basis to ensure maximum presence in both houses. The exercise began on Tuesday afternoon immediately after the Finance Minister’s meeting with the President.
The government decided to approach the Parliament after the President of the State, Dr. Arif Alvi, gave a cold hand to the government for bringing a mini-budget through an ordinance in a meeting with Dar.
A statement issued by the Presidency after the meeting said that the President advised that it would be more appropriate to take the Parliament into confidence on this important issue and to convene the meeting immediately so that the bill could be implemented without delay.
In the meeting, the Finance Minister briefed the President on the progress in the government’s negotiations with the IMF.
Dar informed Alvi that the government wants to raise additional revenue by implementing the said ordinance. He also talked about all the agreed methods with the International Monetary Fund.
Immediately after the meeting, the Federal Cabinet met and approved the Finance Bill.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Raja Riaz Ahmed, has directed the members of his group to attend the meeting.
Sources say that after the approval of the National Assembly, the bill will be sent to the Senate soon.
The Senate will condone the period fixed for consideration by suspending the Rules of Business and return the bill to the National Assembly.
