KARACHI: Top government officials on Thursday refuted reports of changes to the date of the upcoming federal budget.

Khurram Schehzad, adviser to the finance minister, said no decision has been made to postpone the federal budget for the fiscal year 2025-26, clarifying that the previously announced date of June 10 remains unchanged.

Earlier, media reports claimed the budget, which was earlier moved forward from June 2, would once again be postponed due to Eidul Azha holidays.

However, Mr Schehzad refuted the reports in a post on X.

“[T]he upcoming Pakistan Economic Survey FY25 is scheduled to be announced on June 9, 2025,” he said while referring to the document issued a day before the budget outlining economic performance in the outgoing year.

Finance Secretary Imdadullah Bosal also said there was no change in the budget date.

“The federal budget will be presented on June 10,” he told the media after exiting a committee meeting at the National Assembly.

The speculation about a possible change in the date of the budget was triggered due to Eidul Azha falling on June 7. This makes June 9 — the date for the Economic Survey’s announcement — the third day of Eid.

Last week, the government postponed the federal budget amid inconclusive discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on certain critical fiscal measures and to avoid the Eid break during the budget session.

Sources said there was also a view that it would be difficult for the government to gather a sufficient number of members of parliament from their hometowns for the budget debate if it was announced before Eid.

Before the budget, the Annual Plan Coordination Committee meeting will also take place to finalise federal and provincial development plans.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2025