NA panel questions changes to PBO bill

Nafisa Shah says they risk turning the office into govt-controlled entity

ISLAMABAD:

The National Assembly's Finance Committee subcommittee on Wednesday noted that the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) Bill 2025 had not yet been formally shared with them in writing, and observed that the proposed structural changes seemed aimed at turning the panel into a government entity.

The meeting of the subcommittee was chaired by MNA Nafisa Shah. The body reviewed the bill after a long hiatus.

Expressing concern over the absence of Finance Secretary Imdadullah Bosal at the outset, members noted that the bill had not yet been formally shared with them in writing. The finance secretary later joined the session and briefed the committee on the proposed changes by the Finance Division.

According to the briefing, the division suggested reducing the size of the steering committee, defining its terms of reference, and outlining provisions for the PBO's funding and expenditures. "We have tried to ensure that no parallel structure is created," the secretary said.

Committee Chairperson Nafisa Shah observed that the proposed structural changes appeared to convert the office into a government entity. "Parliament is a separate body from the government, and it should remain so," she stressed.

The finance secretary maintained that the purpose of limiting the size of the steering committee was to avoid a situation where too many people are inducted.