The 'mini-budget'

Pakistan People's Party has demanded of the government to explain why it is mulling introducing a mini-budget in the country anytime soon. According to one of its leaders, MNA Nafisa Shah, the daughter of former Sindh chief minister Qaim Ali Shah, the government is still clueless about the enormity of economic challenges facing the country. Earlier, in a briefing to the Senate Standing Committee (SSC) on Finance, Asad Umar, Federal Minister of Finance, had hinted at a number of initiatives likely to be taken by the present government to rehabilitate the economy. The government, he reportedly said, would present a "mini-budget" through "money bill" to impose/increase taxes to bridge over Rs 100 billion shortfall of the FBR during July-November, 2018.
The finance minister had already answered the question why the government would be introducing a mini-budget anytime soon. The question whether or not the government has a clear economic roadmap, however, still remains unanswered. Its decision to introduce a mini-budget with a view to overcoming or meeting the FBR revenue shortfall does not add to the finance minister's competence either.