The federal government has established a high-level budget review committee led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to examine tax proposals aimed at generating around Rs. 215 billion in additional revenue in the upcoming fiscal year, officials said.

Sources indicated that the committee will help design broader fiscal measures totaling nearly Rs. 430 billion to meet reform commitments agreed with the International Monetary Fund under Pakistan’s ongoing economic programme.

The panel includes Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, Finance Secretary Imdad Ullah Bodal, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue Rashid Langrial, senior tax officials, and private-sector tax experts.

Officials familiar with the process suggested the committee’s role is to review and refine revenue proposals prepared by the Tax Policy Office to ensure that next year’s budget meets agreed fiscal targets.

The Finance Division rejected reports claiming that responsibility for budget preparation had shifted away from the Ministry of Finance. The ministry described such reports as inaccurate, emphasizing that the committee functions only as a consultative platform before final policy decisions are taken.

According to the ministry, preparation of the federal budget continues under the Ministry of Finance, while inter-ministerial review committees remain a routine governance practice intended to strengthen coordination rather than alter institutional authority.