Under PTI, Dar requests a panel to look into the "economic slump"

 IMF-mandated Finance (Supplemental) Bill, 2023, also known as the mini-budget, was introduced in both houses of parliament on Wednesday. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar called for the establishment of a national commission to look into the causes of the "economic decline" in the nation over the previous four years and reaffirmed his offer to political parties to create a national economic agenda.

A grim-faced finance minister gave a 35-minute speech at the sparsely attended National Assembly session, blaming the previous PTI administration for the nation's economic problems but asserting that the current administration was committed to carrying out the agreement the previous leaders had made with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), since "an agreement with the IMF is an agreement with the state and not with a government."

The finance measure was later presented to the Senate by the finance minister. The government then decided to try to pass the bill through the National Assembly, therefore both chambers were recessed until Friday. According to the Constitution, the Senate is not compelled to enact a money bill; instead, it is merely permitted to make suggestions that the lower house of parliament may or may not follow.

Addressing in the specially called National Assembly, Mr. Dar noted that the current ruling coalition had accepted the PTI government's agreement with the IMF and also assured its renewal and implementation despite having to pay a significant political price. He stated, "We think that the state should have a precedence over politics.

The opposition protests loudly in the Senate as the minister presents the "IMF-dictated mini-budget" to both houses of the legislature.

He emphasised the necessity for a "Charter of Economics" and said that regardless of their party affiliations, all political leaders should come together to contribute to the improvement of the economy.

He recalled the remarks he had given as the previous PML-N government's finance minister: "We should join together and develop a national economic strategy and implement it [regardless] of whatever administration is in power [...] but unfortunately I was not able to realise this wish."

Ahmed Rehan

According to Mr. Dar, the PML-N government was in power during the 2017–18 fiscal year when suddenly "an apolitical change was imposed which damaged the successful and completely authorised

Then, in 2018, a chosen government was established. It is sufficient to note that a nation that had been the world's 24th largest economy fell to 47th place in 2022 in order to illustrate the terrible economic policies of the chosen administration, according to Mr. Dar.

Mr. Dar stated, "By this house, I urge that a national commission be established to identify the causes of the economic fall and to find out as to how and who had hatched this conspiracy against the country's interests for which the nation is now paying a terrible price.

The minister gave the House his word that the prime minister and his cabinet will embrace a policy of "simplicity," and that the former would soon give the country his word on the matter.

The debate was formally launched by PTI dissident Noor Alam Khan when Opposition Leader Raja Riaz was not present. While comparing the costs, Mr. Khan noted that many goods and commodities, like as flour, sugar, and fertilisers, were now more expensive than they were during the PTI's previous administration.

The PTI MNA from Peshawar lashed out at the government for raising the cost of electricity and expressed concern that the poor were footing the officials' bills while enjoying free electricity.

He claimed that there were "just taxes and taxes, and no perks" in Pakistan. "If you levy taxes, provide some benefits as well. When we go to ask for votes, we just remember the individuals. But you forget about them when you impose taxes," he continued, requesting that the administration show the House all of its contracts with the IMF. When the quorum was later pointed out by Jamaat-i-Islami MNA Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali, the speaker terminated the meeting without even requesting a head count.

In Pakistan, he claimed, "there are simply taxes and taxes, and no perks." "And provide some perks if you impose taxes. When it comes time to ask for votes, we only recall the individuals. But when you impose taxes, you don't take them into consideration," he said, requesting that the administration show the House all of its contracts with the IMF. Afterwards, the speaker terminated the meeting without even requesting a head count when Jamaat-i-Islami MNA Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali pointed out the quorum.