Balochistan postpones budget announcement until May 14

Provincial home minister says planning department's lack of preparation was the reason behind the delay

QUETTA: Balochistan Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti said on Friday the annual provincial budget session has been postponed until May 14 as he sought more time to present a "comprehensive budget".

Talking to media persons, Bugti said the delay was caused as the planning and development department had not been prepared to present the budget. "Minor issues such as delay in printing was the reason behind the delay", he said.

He further said the provincial government intended to present a comprehensive budget and that's the reason behind the delay in its presentation.

Sarfraz denied that there were any disagreements between the stakeholders that led to the postponement. "We will present a budget that's acceptable to all," he added.



The home minister said the budget will be presented with consensus. He said that the name of the caretaker chief minister will come to the fore at ab appropriate time.

To a question, Sarfraz said the provincial budget wasn't in any way linked with the federal government.

Opposition parties' reaction

Meanwhile, opposition leader Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal condemned the delay, saying it had conveyed a negative impression that the public representatives couldn't prepare the budget.

He blamed additional chief secretary Naseebullah Bazai for the postponement, accusing him of wanting to evolve a budget of his choosing.

Similarly, former provincial chief minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch termed the postponement a failure of the government.