Questions Raised Over Spending on Defence, IPPs, and Other Sectors Without Parliamentary Approval
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed serious reservations over the federal government’s disbursement of Rs344 billion in grants during the current fiscal year without the formal approval of the National Assembly.
According to sources, the IMF considers the move—particularly the allocations for defence, Independent Power Producers (IPPs), and other sectors—a breach of Pakistan’s agreement with the lender.
The disbursed amount includes Rs115 billion allocated to IPPs, Rs30 billion for flood relief in Sindh, and Rs6 billion provided to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Other expenditures include Rs14 billion for solar energy initiatives, Rs23 billion for anti-terrorism efforts, and Rs2 billion for technology upgrades.
Additionally, Rs3.7 billion was spent on the Reko Diq project, Rs520 million was allocated to the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), and Rs7 billion was earmarked for parliamentarians’ development schemes.
The IMF’s concerns centre around the lack of parliamentary oversight and transparency, which it views as inconsistent with agreed fiscal discipline and governance reforms.
