ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Arif Nizami has said federal budget for the next financial year is likely to be announced in the first week of next month.
He was responding to questions by newsmen after addressing a seminar in Islamabad this afternoon.
The Minister said Senator Ishaq Dar of PML-N is expected to be the Finance Minister in the new Government and he is busy preparing budgetary proposals these days.
About power outages‚ he said apart from gap in supply and demand‚ the inability of the Finance Ministry to release funds to ensure uninterrupted supply of fuel to power plants is also a factor.
He said Khawaja Muhammad Asif‚ who is likely to be Minister for Water and Power in PML (N) Government‚ and a team of experts are preparing plans for overcoming the shortage of power. He said the caretaker Government should also seek input from this team to alleviate sufferings of the people.
About postings and transfers‚ the Information Minister said he personally believes that these were justified before elections but there was no room for them now. He‚ however‚ said he would not comment on the issue as the matter is subjudice.
Replying to a question‚ Mr. Arif Nizami said it is prerogative of the President to convene session of the new Assembly.
He said as for caretaker Government is concerned‚ it would not remain in power even a day longer than necessary.
Earlier‚ addressing one-day seminar on “Creating Joint Social Media Policy for all Government Departments” Information Minister said there is urgent need to benefit from the latest technology to put the country on the path to development.
Arif Nizami said social media can be utilized to resolve the problems being faced by the health and education sectors.
The Information Minister said the print and the electronic media still have more credibility than the social media.
The seminar was organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Global Strategies in Islamabad today.
