ISLAMABAD - The government has yet to release the official budget deficit figures for the last financial year 2011-2012, which would present dismal situation as deficit has crossed 8 per cent of the GDP (equalling to Rs 1652 billion) against the revised target of 4.7 per cent.
Sources informed that government finalises the figures of budget deficit in July ever year, however it failed to do so during the current year despite passing one and half month period. The Finance Ministry officials blamed the strike of Auditor General of Pakistan Revenues (AGPR) officials, who had blocked the way of reconciliation of figures of total revenues and total expenditures of the previous financial year 2011-2012.
“The government is likely to release the official budget deficit figures for the last financial year 2011-2012 within the current month (August)”, said an official of the Finance Ministry. He was of the view that figures would get finalized in next few days.
However, sources further informed that government had missed the revised target of budget deficit of 4.7pc, as the imbalance surged to 8 per cent of the GDP due to increase in expenditures and shortfall in revenue collection in last financial year 2011-2012. Fiscal deficit target was fixed at 4 per cent of the GDP at the eve of budget 2011-2012, which was later revised to 4.7pc due to the heavy rains and floods. However, the government missed all the targets for the fiscal year ended on June 30.
The FBR had collected some Rs 1915 billion during the financial year ended on June 30 against the target of Rs 1952b showing a shortfall of Rs 37b. Similarly, the government failed to receive CSF from USA, auctioning the 3G technology and from other heads in the last fiscal year ended on June 30 that resulted in higher deficit.