A senior government figure has contacted the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to discuss the party’s reservations regarding the federal budget for 2026-27, amid efforts to maintain coalition consensus on key fiscal measures.
According to sources, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari postponed his scheduled address to the National Assembly and will now speak in the House after receiving formal clarification from the government on budget-related issues.
Sources said the government representative sought details of the PPP’s concerns over the budget proposals, prompting the party to formally present its reservations.
During the interaction, PPP leaders reportedly informed the government official that commitments made to the party during budget consultations had not been fulfilled. They also expressed concerns over what they described as misrepresentation regarding assurances linked to the budget.
According to party sources, the government representative assured PPP leaders that their concerns would be conveyed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and pledged efforts to address the outstanding issues and honour previous commitments.
The PPP is expected to await the government’s formal response before deciding its future course of action regarding the budget, sources added.
Meanwhile, a meeting between budget teams representing the government and the PPP is likely to take place in the coming days as both sides seek to resolve differences and secure broader political support for the budget.
The development comes amid ongoing consultations between coalition partners over fiscal priorities and budgetary measures for the upcoming financial year.
