Pakistan Finance Minister Addresses National Assembly on FY27 Budget

Pakistan's Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is currently addressing the National Assembly, detailing the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2027. His presentation comes after the Assembly engaged in discussions concerning 140 recommendations put forth by the Senate concerning the budget.

During the proceedings, Minister Aurangzeb acknowledged a privilege motion raised by Khawaja Sheraz Mehmood and Azimuddin Zahid. This motion highlighted perceived discrepancies within the budget document, prompting questions regarding the reported GDP growth and per capita income figures, as well as the methodologies used for their calculation.

Addressing these concerns directly, Aurangzeb explained the methodology behind the GDP growth calculation. He stated that the 3.7% GDP growth reported by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) was determined after adjusting for changes in economic activities and their impact on prices. "This is why the 3.7pc GDP growth reported by PBS has been calculated on the constant prices of base year FY15-26," he clarified, emphasizing that this approach aligns with international standards from a methodological perspective.

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This is why the 3.7pc GDP growth reported by PBS has been calculated on the constant prices of base year FY15-26.