PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government is preparing to present a three-month interim budget in the provincial assembly as uncertainty continues over the approval of the full annual financial plan, officials and sources said on Monday.
Sources from the provincial Finance Department revealed that two different budgets have been prepared for KP first, an entire year budget and second, an interim budget plan for the initial three months of the next financial year.
This development has been observed due to certain delays in formulating the annual budget, which, according to earlier expectations was to be presented in the provincial assembly either on June 16 or 17 after the presentation of the federal budget.
The sources further revealed that internal disputes in the provincial government have led to a delay in the preparation of the budget.
To solve the problem, the Chief Minister has formed a parliamentary committee charged with the responsibility of examining the two approaches.
It was pointed out that the parliamentary committee is being assisted by another legal committee to go through all possible constitutional and procedural questions related to Article 125 on provincial finances.
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Sources have revealed that after considering the proposals forwarded by the parliamentary committee, these proposals will then be considered by a political committee before making any decision.
Even though there have been delays, it was indicated that draft budget papers for the two options have been prepared.
The deliberations indicate emerging administrative and political problems within the provincial government as the latter tries to prepare its financial path for the new fiscal year.
In the event that the interim budget gets approved, it will allow the provincial administration to incur necessary costs as talks on the annual budget proceed.
