Balochistan Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Friday announced that the annual provincial budget session has been postponed until May 14 as more time is required to present a “comprehensive budget”.
Talking to media, Bugti maintained that the delay was caused due Planning and Development Department’s lack of preparation to present the budget. “Minor issues such as delay in printing was the reason behind the delay”, he said.
Sarfraz rejected claims that there were any disputes between the stakeholders which 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 an appropriate time.
To a question, Sarfraz said the provincial budget wasn’t in any way linked with the federal government.
OPPOSITION REACTS:
The Opposition Leader in the Balochistan Assembly Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal condemned the delay, saying it gives a negative impression that the public representatives could not 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.
