Pakistan will have to take a step towards development, says Bilawal as NA mulls budget FY27

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is currently addressing the National Assembly, which is debating the proposed federal budget for the next fiscal year (FY27).

He began his speech by praising the efforts of Pakistan’s leadership, particularly the prime minister and the army chief, in the peace agreement between the United States and Iran.

“We have experienced the economic impact of uncertain situations. This is why Pakistan always promotes peace,” he said, terming peace “not just a moral necessity but also economic”.

“When there is stability in the region, investment increases. When there is peace, the youth get employment, and the country progresses,” he said.

“Today, when the world is inching towards peace, Pakistan will have to take a step towards development,” the PPP chairman stressed, adding that he would present his budget speech with the same “spirit”.

“The truth is that peace has not been restored completely in the region,” the former foreign minister said, before noting security challenges on the border with Afghanistan, the “threats of Operation Sindoor 2.0” from India and New Delhi’s unilateral contestation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).

“I can say with pride that Pakistan has responded to the challenge with political unity and democratic tradition,” he added, declaring that the Centre and the provincial governments have decided to “collectively bear the burden of extraordinary necessities related to defence and national security”.

The government has decided to freeze development allocations for the provinces for over a year to generate more than Rs900 billion in additional resources for the Centre’s strategic needs.

Speaking in the NA, Bilawal emphasised that the decision was not taken unconstitutionally but rather under Article 164 of the Constitution.

“The constitution enables the provinces and the federal government that if they have to spend on a topic which does not fall under their domain — whether for the Centre or provinces — so under the article, provinces can give grants to the Centre or the Centre can give grants to the provinces,” he explained.

The PPP chairman also took note of “strange rumours” before the budget was debated in the NA, including the abolishment of the 18th Amendment and changes in the National Finance Commission (NFC) award.

He thanked PM Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb for remaining engaged with PPP representatives.

“With political consensus, we came up with such a constitutional and democratic solution which meets the national security needs and also minimises complaints from the provinces,” he affirmed.

More to follow ...