Islamabad, December 23, 2023 – The Ministry of Finance in Pakistan has vehemently denied recent reports suggesting delays in the disbursement of government employee salaries and the release of funds for crucial development projects.
The ministry, in an official statement, described the news aired by a private channel as baseless and lacking any factual basis.
The spokesperson for the Finance Ministry emphasized that the specific news report, claiming delays in the release of funds for development projects and federal government employee salaries, was entirely unfounded and false. The ministry expressed disappointment that the news channel did not seek the viewpoint of the Finance Division’s spokesperson before broadcasting such news.
The statement underlined Pakistan’s commitment to meeting all obligations under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. It cited the successful completion of the Staff Level Agreement (SLA) of the first review as evidence of the country remaining on track with its commitments. To counter the allegations, the ministry provided detailed fiscal highlights, emphasizing the availability of funds.
The Finance Division has reportedly released funds for the second quarter, covering both current expenditures (salaries, pensions, and non-ERE) and development expenditure. The Planning, Development, and Special Initiative (PD & SI) Division have, in turn, authorized funds for development expenditure to line ministries. Contrary to the news report, the Finance Division and Planning Division assert that there have been no changes to the release strategy.
Additionally, the statement clarified that the Finance Division has disbursed all funds allocated for the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), and the transfer of funds to beneficiaries is in progress. It further emphasized that all funds committed to subsidize the power sector, in line with the Circular Debt Management Plan (CDMP) requirements, have been made available.
Addressing a noteworthy tradition, the Finance Division assured that salaries for the Christian community, in preparation for Christmas, have been released. The statement highlighted the Finance Division’s commitment to ensuring timely and smooth salary disbursements.
Furthermore, the Finance Ministry stressed that revenue collection by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the National Treasury Receipts (NTR) collection by other ministries are progressing as planned. The statement concluded by asserting that the news report was aired without any evidence and failed to present the government’s perspective on the matter.
As the Finance Ministry rebuts these allegations, the incident underscores the importance of responsible journalism and the need for thorough fact-checking before the dissemination of information. The Finance Ministry’s detailed response aims to set the record straight, reaffirming its commitment to financial transparency and adherence to IMF program requirements.
