In his attempt to get recommendations on, and approval of, the federal budget 2013-14 from the National Economic Council (NEC), Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif summoned the NEC to meet today (Monday) to deliberate upon the proposed draft budget.
Earlier in the day, in pursuance of Article 156(1) of the constitution, President Asif Zardari, on advice of the prime minister, constituted the NEC to facilitate the budget process.
Article 156(1) of the constitution states that the NEC shall be constituted by the president comprising the prime minister as its chairman, chief ministers and one member from each province, to be nominated by the respective chief minister, and four other members that the premier may nominate from time to time.
Spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar said the PM would be chairman of the NEC while members nominated by the PM include federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Ghulam Murtaza Khan Jatoi and Khwaja Mohammad Asif.
Moreover, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab’s finance minister, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Adviser to Sindh CM on Finance Syed Murad Ali Shah, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, KP Finance Minister Sirajul Haq, Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch and Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal, MPA from Balochistan, would be members of the council.
The summary sent to the presidency from PM’s office said the following would also be invited by a special invitation to attend the meeting; KP governor, Azad Jammu & Kashmir PM, Gilgit-Baltistan CM, Planning Commission deputy chairman, Finance Division secretary, Economic Affairs Division secretary, and Planning & Development Division secretary.
The budget session is likely to be convened on June 12.
