President Asif Ali Zardari has formally summoned separate sessions of the National Assembly and the Senate on June 5 to deliberate on the federal budget for the fiscal year 2026-27.

According to an official press release issued by the Presidency, the National Assembly will meet at 5pm, followed by the Senate session at 6pm on the same day.

In parallel, key preparatory meetings, including the Annual Plan Coordination Committee (APCC) and the National Economic Council (NEC), are scheduled in the first week of June.These forums review the country’s economic performance for the outgoing fiscal year and set development and growth targets for the upcoming year.

Due to this scheduling, there are indications that the federal budget presentation in parliament may be delayed to the second week of June instead of the earlier expected first week.The government is reportedly preparing a consolidated national development programme exceeding Rs3.5 trillion, alongside a macroeconomic framework that projects 4.1 percent GDP growth and an inflation rate of around 8.5 percent for FY2026-27.

The budget planning process has also been influenced by recent discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which concluded its visit to Pakistan after reviewing economic developments and budget strategy for the upcoming fiscal year.Meanwhile, the finance ministry has denied reports suggesting that Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has taken over the budget-making process.

The ministry clarified that the constitution of a high-level review committee by the prime minister does not imply sidelining the finance division or minister, but is part of routine budget coordination.

Overall, the developments reflect ongoing fiscal planning, international engagement, and institutional coordination ahead of the upcoming budget presentation.