PM Khan summons consultative meeting

Islamabad: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) has summoned an important consultative meeting of the party’s parliamentary body before they table mini-budget in the Parliament. Prime Minister Imran Khan has called the meeting Wednesday, January 23. The premier will chair the meeting that will be briefed by Finance Minister Asad Umar. The party has directed all relevant members to ensure their presence in the key meeting. It is expected that the PTI will also finalize its strategy to tackle the looming opposition protest against the government. The finance minister on January 11 announced that his party would unveil the mini budget about two weeks later. The PTI-led federal government is presenting the mini-budget in order to introduce a comprehensive economic plan for the next three years. It had already announced a mini- budget in September last year. The incumbent government intends to bring the third finance bill in the parliament to achieve tax collection targets. Earlier, the minister said the country’s trade deficit had reduced due to a rise in foreign remittances and exports. The minister said the government was in contact with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but they were not in a hurry for the IMF package. “We will sign an agreement that suits the country’s economy.”