In an attempt to rationalise financial planning for the next financial year, 2025-26, the central government has asked all divisions and ministries to deposit unspent funds from the present financial year on or before April 30, 2025.

As per Ministry of Finance sources, the directive intends to wrap up the revised budgetary estimates for the 2024-25 fiscal year and introduce more stability in planning the next financial year. All ministries and divisions' principal accounting officers have been informed to provide timely return of the remaining funds.

This decision, taken on the recommendation of the Public Accounts Committee, is part of broader efforts to allocate national resources more efficiently. The Ministry of Finance stated that unused funds should be redirected to areas where they are critically needed, including civil government operations, subsidies, and development projects.

The development budget for the current financial year was revised to Rs 1100 billion, but so far, only Rs 450 billion has been used. Officials believe that redirecting unspent money will help in making more accurate projections and fund allocations for the upcoming year.

As the April 30 deadline is near at hand, the ministries are put under pressure to report their estimated savings and restore unused amounts at the earliest.