The government is all set to present Budget Strategy Paper (BSP) in federal cabinet meeting likely to be held on Thursday envisaging GDP growth target at 4.5 percent and a total budget outlay at around Rs 3.2 trillion for the next financial year 2013-14.
The federal cabinet would likely to meet on Thursday under the chair of Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf wherein finance ministry would present the Budget Strategy Paper. The finance ministry has already finalised contours of budget for the next fiscal year 2013-14 envisaging 4.5 percent GDP growth, which was set at 4.2 percent for the current financial year 2012-13. According to the Budget Strategy Paper 2013-16, the GDP growth has been projected at 4.5 percent, 4.8 percent and 5.3 percent in the next three fiscal years in the medium-term macrocosmic framework.
Meanwhile, fiscal deficit has been projected at 5 percent of the GDP that was set at 4.7 percent for the present fiscal year and a total outlay of around Rs 3.2 trillion for upcoming financial year 2013-14. Similarly, inflation rate has been projected at 9 per cent for the upcoming financial year 2013-14 as against 9.5 percent of the ongoing fiscal year.The initial estimates revealed that defense budget could be enhanced to Rs 599 billion for the next fiscal year 2013-14 from Rs 545 billion of the ongoing financial year.
The government would allocate Rs 136 billion for pensions and Rs 165 billion for subsidies for the upcoming financial year. According to the initial estimates, the volume of Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) would increased to Rs 450 billion for the next financial year 2013-14 from Rs 360 billion of the ongoing fiscal year 2012-13. Meanwhile, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collection target has been proposed at Rs 2.650 trillion for the next fiscal year 2013-14 compared to the initial revenue collection target of Rs 2381 billion for the current financial year 2012-13.
Sources informed that Budget Strategy Paper would be presented to the federal cabinet for clearance after which finance ministry would firm up budgetary estimates for the next financial year 2013-14. Sources added that new government would announce the new budget not the caretaker set-up.