Islamabad, February 11; PILDAT has lauded the Government�s decision to present Budget proposals to Parliamentary Committees by May this year to allow in-depth budget review and input by the Committees and in turn ensuring Parliamentary oversight and control over the budget process.

Terming the cabinet�s decision to begin the Parliamentary Budget Process in May this year as a historic initiative, PILDAT believed that the decision reflected the present government�s commitment to strengthen Parliament and improve and strengthen the Parliamentary Budget Process � or Parliamentary Control of the Purse Strings which is one of the most crucial powers of any Parliament. The Budget is the most important economic policy tool of the Government and provides a comprehensive statement of the nation's priorities. As the representative of the people, Parliament is the appropriate place to ensure that the Budget best matches the nation's needs with available resources. Such an exercise demands detailed engagement of the Parliament with the Budget Process and the Government�s decision to strengthen this role of the Parliament will go a long way in heralding democratic and Parliamentary reform.

PILDAT has been working together with veteran Parliamentarians across parties, including the current legislative and executive leadership, to improve the Parliamentary Budget Process to allow for meaningful input, control, scrutiny and oversight of the budget by the public representatives. PILDAT�s recommendations in this regard have included holding of pre-budget hearings by Finance and other Parliamentary Committees to solicit expert and public input to the Budget and the Annual Development Plan; a Role and a time period for the Standing Committees to review the demands for grants relating to their respective ministries or divisions; extension in the duration of the annual Budget Session to allow a more meaningful input and debate in the Parliament.

PILDAT also noted that these reforms in the budget process enjoyed consensus of almost all political parties represented in the Parliament and it was now for these parties to take full advantage of the extended budget session and role of the Parliamentary Committees to assert their effective role in shaping the new budget.