Imports have taken over the economy while domestic production has shrunk and a sizable portion of Pakistan's budget is dependent on foreign help.
The budget has evolved into a political document, making it so challenging to comprehend that even journalists find it difficult, said renowned economist Dr. Kaiser Bengali during his lecture on Budget Reporting at the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday.
`A training session on Budget Reporting was held at the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. The session was organized by the Skill Development Committee of KPC.
The aim of the session was to enhance the skills and knowledge of journalists on how to analyze and report on federal and provincial budgets.
The guest speakers of the session were Dr. Kaiser Bengali, a renowned economist, and Dr. Iffat, a senior economic and trade scholar. They shared their insights and experiences on various aspects of budget reporting, such as the budget cycle, budget documents, budget indicators, budget allocations, budget deficits, budget transparency, and accountability.
According to Dr. Kaiser Bengali, imports have taken over the economy while domestic production has shrunk and a sizable portion of Pakistan’s budget is dependent on foreign help.
KPC president Saeed Sarbazi, secretary Shoaib Ahmed, business reporter, Malik Tanveer Ahmed, and the secretary of the Skill Development Committee Hamidur Rahman, all spoke at the workshop. Dr. Qaiser Bengali provided instruction on budget elements, fundamental terms, and comprehension and reporting of a budget copy.
They also discussed the challenges and opportunities for journalists in covering the budget in a comprehensive and accurate manner.
The session was attended by a large number of journalists from different print and electronic media outlets in Karachi. The participants appreciated the session and said that it was very informative and useful for their professional development. They also expressed their interest in attending more such sessions in the future.