Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday discussed the upcoming budget via video link.

Dar briefed the ailing prime minister on different aspects of the budget for year 2016-17. The prime minister reportedly expressed his satisfaction over the budget and hoped that cabinet and the NEC will approve it on Monday (today).

The finance minister briefed the prime minister on increase in salaries and pensions of the government employees, a special agricultural package for the farmers, imposition of new taxes, subsidy on edibles and rate of inflation in the country.

The prime minister, for the first time in the history of the country, will chair the cabinet as well as National Economic Council meeting and approve the budget via video link from London, where he is on a private visit for the treatment of his heart ailment.

The presence of all chief ministers is necessary in the meeting of the NEC but Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif will take part in the meeting via video link since he is also in London along with his brother.

The prime minister is likely to make a brief speech to the cabinet in which he will formally accord approval to the budget

Different lawyer leaders have hinted at moving the court against approval of budget via video link as they believe that finance bill could not be tabled in the House in the absence of leader of the House.