Get the latest news and updates from Dawn
THE budget is a tug-of-war between different interest groups. On one hand, there is explicit lobbying by various business groups and industry bodies that commission reports, hold events and engage policymakers.
These organisations, explains Dr Ali Hasanain, associate professor of economics at Lums, also meet political party leaders and bureaucrats in both formal and private settings to communicate their concerns and policy preferences.
This is broadly in line with how businesses operate globally. For example, US President Donald Trump’s top backer in the last election was investor Timothy Mellon, who gave $150 million to Make America Great Again, Inc., followed by Elon Musk, who gave $118.6m.
But while lobbying and formal influence exist everywhere, the distribution of power is far less orderly in Pakistan. No single player is all-powerful, though wealth is concentrated in relatively few hands. Instead, policy becomes outcome of fragmented pressure from multiple directions.
