Rift in Pakistan's Ruling Coalition: PPP Accuses PML-N of Budget Neglect

Discontent has emerged within Pakistan's ruling coalition, with the PPP accusing the PML-N of ignoring its input on the 2024-25 budget. This neglect has caused frustration among PPP officials, raising questions about the coalition’s stability as crucial budgetary decisions remain undisclosed.

The fissures within Pakistan's ruling coalition government have surfaced, with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)—a critical ally—accusing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of sidelining its inputs in the annual budget preparation. This development casts shadows over the coalition's future stability.

PPP's voice of dissent became prominent during its parliamentary committee meeting, chaired by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. The Dawn newspaper reported the gathering occurred ahead of the upcoming budget presentation in Parliament for the financial year 2024-25.

Shazia Marri, PPP Information Secretary, briefed journalists about the mounting concerns among party lawmakers who felt neglected in the budget-making process. She highlighted that the federal government's approach was creating accountability issues for PPP members within their constituencies.

"No input from our party was taken in preparing the budget. Even in the federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), our opinions were sidelined. Efforts to voice our concerns to senior government officials were unproductive," Marri stated, reflecting on the PPP's growing frustration.

The situation has been exacerbated by the recent approval of a 47% increase in the federal PSDP, overseen by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. This has further fuelled PPP's discontent, as their significant coalition role appears undermined.

The coalition, established post-February 8 elections plagued by allegations of massive rigging, is now strained by these unresolved issues. PPP leader Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah emphasized the party's lack of information on critical matters, including the privatisation policy, taxes, and developmental programs.

The PPP's uncertainty about whether the PML-N is crafting the budget or adhering to IMF guidelines underscores the complexity of the current political landscape. This dynamic suggests the need for PPP to politically scrutinize the budget outcomes closely.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)