January 15: The government expenditures in the first half of the current fiscal year (FY 2023-24) exceeded its income. As of mid-January, the nation suffered a budget deficit of Rs 48.46 billion.    
According to the data of half-yearly budget review released by the Office of the Auditor General, the government met 35.19 percent of the annual revenue collection target, while expenditures reached 32.35 percent.    
In the current fiscal year, the government had estimated to collect revenue amounting to Rs 1472 billion while the collections till mid-January stood at RS 518 billion, which is 35.19 percent of the target.    

In the review period, the government collected Rs 443.05 billion towards tax revenue and Rs 52.094 billion towards non-tax revenue.

A government had set a target to receive foreign grants totaling Rs 49.94 billion in the current fiscal year but has managed to secure grants of Rs 2.75 billion, which is 5 percent of the target.

Out of the total budget of Rs 1751.31 billion for the current fiscal year, the government has spent Rs 566.62 billion as of January 14. This amount is equivalent to 32.35 per cent of the annual budget.    
Out of the total budget of Rs 1141.78 billion allocated under the heading of current expenditure, the government has spent Rs 437.38 billion so far which is 38.31 percent of the earmarked amount.    
Similarly, out of Rs 302.74 billion allocated towards capital expenditure, the government has spent Rs 49.23 billion or 16.3 percent. Similarly, out of the Rs 307.45 billion allocated towards the financial management, the government has spent Rs 80.4 billion which is 26.2 percent of the total amount. -- RSS