Finance Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday at the Ministry of Finance to finalize preparations for the presentation of the budget – 2017-18 in the National Assembly on Friday 26th May 2017. Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Revenue, Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan, Finance Secretary, Secretary EAD, Chairman FBR, and senior officials of the Ministry of Finance attended the meeting.

The meeting followed a detailed briefing to the Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif regarding the budget, earlier in the day, by a team led by the Finance Minister, and consisting of the Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Revenue, Finance Secretary, Secretary EAD and Chairman FBR.

The Finance Minister expressed satisfaction with the progress made on budget arrangements. He directed Finance Division and FBR to complete the budget preparations in accordance with the guidance and directions of the Prime Minister. He said that the main emphasis of the budget is on ensuring the welfare of the general public and achieving higher, sustainable and inclusive economic growth, starting with the 6% GDP growth target for FY 2017-18.