According to the media report the PDM led government is planning to table the federal budget in the National Assembly on 9th or 10th June. This would be the last chance for the government to give some relief to the inflation hit people before the next general elections.
On the one side the people are also expecting that they would provide some relief to them by cutting down the prices of some daily usage items especially kitchen commodities but on the other hand IMF is pressing hard on the government to withdraw the subsidies and to increase the price of energy.
Now the government is struggling in the middle, whether to comply with the order of the IMF or to pacify the public and to increase their vote bank.
It is an old practice of every government in the past to always present its first and last budget in the favor of the people. Now by keeping this tradition alive, the government would make an effort to present people’s friendly budget by decreasing the prices of some items and increasing the pay and pensions of the government servants.
But if the government would toe the line of International Monetary Fund (IMF), the result would be very appalling as the prices would be higher and difficulties of the people would also go up, if the government would fulfil the conditions laid down by IMF for their 1.1 billion dollars tranche , the government would fell into deep hot water as the people would not vote to the parties that are included in the government and they would definitely loose the next elections, which are going to be held in the current calendar year .
As a matter of fact, the PDM government, from when it came to power in April 2022, took financial decisions according to the will of the IMF and ignored the common man. Now as a revenge, the common man will ignore the ruling alliance while voting in the next general elections or else Prime Minister and Finance Minister would give some relief to the people in the upcoming budget.
Now it is the last opportunity for the government to come up to the expectations of the people of the country so that the rulers may win some confidence of the people and the next general elections may produce some face saving results for them.
It is very imperative that for the first time during its tenure the government should think about the welfare of the common man. The government should cut the prices of the items used by the general public, specifically edible items and if the government thinks that the putting the tax is necessary then it should be levied on the luxury items such as vehicles, makeup items and cigarettes.
But if they would follow the instructions of the IMF in the budget, then it would be difficult for them to retain power after elections as the people who have already exhausted due to excessive price hikes, would say good bye to them for the next five years.