Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari underscored the necessity of incorporating political perspectives into the proposals for the 2024-25 budget during a session of the National Assembly on Tuesday.
He argued that without political input, the budget would fail to achieve its intended targets and would not effectively deliver relief to the people.
In his address, Bilawal criticized the dominance of bureaucrats (“babus”) in crafting the budget, emphasizing that it would result in a budget made by bureaucrats, for bureaucrats, and about bureaucrats. He expressed the PPP’s determination to break away from this tradition and ensure broader political participation in budgetary decisions.
The PPP, a key ally of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), voiced concerns over being excluded from consultations regarding the upcoming fiscal year’s federal budget, despite multiple rounds of discussions with the Shehbaz Sharif-led party. It was reported that the PML-N had agreed to address the PPP’s grievances following these talks.
During his speech, Bilawal highlighted disparities between bureaucratic and political perspectives, citing examples such as proposals to tax milk or stationery in a country where 40% of children suffer from stunting and 26 million are out of school—decisions he attributed to bureaucratic thinking rather than political foresight.
Touching upon economic issues, Bilawal acknowledged some progress in inflation reduction but criticized the government’s failure to provide sufficient relief to the general population in terms of revenue policies outlined in every budget indirectly.
Switching to environmental concerns, Bilawal stressed the importance of addressing climate change seriously, as he believed Pakistan would inevitably face severe consequences if this issue is not prioritized.
In addition, Bilawal criticized the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), describing it as an organization used for political purposes that undermines political institutions and democracy. He reiterated the PPP’s manifesto commitment to abolishing NAB, suggesting that even staunch supporters of the bureau might eventually approve of such a move.
Overall, Bilawal’s speech reflected the PPP’s stance on the need for inclusive and politically informed governance, particularly in crucial matters such as budget formulation and climate policy.
