By Irum Saleem
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) senior leader and former federal minister Moonis Elahi has criticised the government’s handling of the upcoming federal budget, alleging that delays in its presentation were linked to internal disagreements over resource allocation and taxation measures.
47 نمبریوں سے نہ ملک چل رہا ہے نہ بجٹ بن رہا ہے۔ ان کی نااہلی کے علاوہ بجٹ تاخیر کی بڑی وجہ آپس میں وسائل کی لوٹ مار اور عوام پر ٹیکسوں کی یلغار کے طریق کار پر اتفاق ہے۔ جیسے ہی مک مکا ہو جائیگا نیا بجٹ آ جائیگا۔
— Moonis Elahi (@MoonisElahi) June 9, 2026
In a post on X, Mr Elahi said the country was not being run effectively and claimed that the budget-making process had been hindered by what he described as mismanagement and political maneuvering.
“Neither the country is being run nor the budget is being prepared through fraudulent tactics and manipulation,” he wrote, adding that incompetence alone was not the reason behind the delay.
The former minister alleged that the major factor behind the postponement of the budget was an internal struggle among ruling stakeholders over the distribution of resources and the mechanism for imposing additional taxes on the public.
“The main reason for the delay in the budget is their internal struggle over the distribution of resources and how to impose a barrage of taxes on the public,” he said.
Mr Elahi further claimed that the budget would only be announced once the parties involved reached a consensus on these issues.
“As soon as they reach a mutual understanding and strike a deal, the new budget will be unveiled,” he added.
His remarks came amid intense political debate over the federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year, with opposition parties accusing the government of preparing a tax-heavy financial plan under the shadow of commitments made to international lenders.
The government has maintained that the budget is being finalised after consultations with stakeholders and in line with broader economic reforms aimed at fiscal stability, revenue generation and compliance with ongoing financial commitments.
Opposition leaders, however, have repeatedly argued that ordinary citizens are likely to bear the burden of new taxation measures as the government seeks to increase revenue collection and reduce the fiscal deficit.
Moonis Elahi’s statement reflects the PTI’s broader criticism of the coalition government’s economic management, with the party contending that rising inflation, increasing utility costs and additional taxation are placing growing pressure on households and businesses across the country.
The government has yet to respond directly to Mr Elahi’s comments.
