Finance Minister and Senator Ishaq Dar has said that the federal government would accord top priority to the well-being of the people in the budget for the fiscal year 2017-18.
He stated this while chairing a meeting on Wednesday to review the progress of preparations for the upcoming budget.
The finance secretary provided an update to the minister on the state of preparations for the budget and coordination with different ministries and departments in this regard. He said that as desired by the finance minister, all stakeholders including economic experts, chambers of commerce and industries, business and traders community etc, would be taken on board while finalising the budget.
He said that a proper mechanism for in-depth liaison with these stakeholders had already been devised. The secretary said that all budget activities would be undertaken according to the timelines given in the schedule shared with the finance minister in the previous meeting on the matter.
Dar said the budget would also focus on measures for further improving ease of doing business and increasing financial inclusion in the country. The minister said that the budget would be finalised keeping in view the primary aim of achieving higher, sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
