&nbsp;Amid persisting political chaos and growing influx of protesters from opposition parties towards Islamabad, aiming to bring the capital to a stand still until the fate of Imran Khan is decided through the opposition led No Confidence Voting; the capital braces for what seems like a final showdown by the government and the opposition. 
 
Imran Khan's premiership is faced with a massive challenge posed by the opposition alliance, comprising of at least 20 opposition parties, who, after 3 years of sitting in the opposition benches, have now decided to take on Imran Khan and ensure that he is off-thrown his seat as the Prime Minister of the country, through a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly of Pakistan.

They now feel confident of ousting Khan after many of the members of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Pakistan (TTP) along with ally political parties, have defected and sided with the opposition parties, injecting confidence into the opposition rank that this time, they will be able to get the golden number of a 172 votes, required to claim majority during the no-confidence voting.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pak-opposition-accuses-pm-imran-khan-of-buying-time-to-muster-support-after-delay-in-no-confidence-motion-465421">&nbsp;Pak opposition accuses PM Imran Khan of buying time to muster support after delay in no-confidence motion</a> 
 
With the political temperature hitting boiling point, Pakistan's Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has hinted towards calling for early elections, which he said may be called immediately after the federal budget for fiscal year 2022-23 is presented. 
 
During a press conference, Rasheed said that he had advised Prime Minister Imran Khan to call for elections after the budget, insisting that Khan`s popularity had increased in the wake of opposition's no-confidence motion against him. 
 
"I am asking for early elections after presenting a good budget because this incompetent opposition has allowed us to win again", he said. 
 
"When the Pakistani nation sees their opposition leaders'&nbsp;&nbsp;faces, they switch channels," he added. 
 
Taking a jibe on opposition leader and PML-N leader Shahbaz Sharif, Rasheed said, "this is the same Shahbaz Sharif who says Nawaz Sharif greatly respects Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and the army".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/witchcraft-theft-corruption-its-mud-slinging-time-in-pak-ahead-of-a-no-confidence-vote-465349">Witchcraft, theft, corruption: It's mud-slinging time in Pak ahead of a no-confidence vote</a> 
 
"Where did the 'vote ko izzat do'&nbsp;go? The vote has been sold at shops, they have insulted democracy", he added reminding of Nawaz Sharif`s statements where he blamed the country`s military establishment for ousting him from power. 
 
Rasheed also said that the no-confidence voting was likely to take place on the April 3 or April 4, adding that the defected may be promising opposition benches of their support, but on the day of the voting, they will not vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Watch |&nbsp;Pakistan political turmoil: Imran Khan rejects speculation of involvement of army

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Amid persisting political chaos and growing influx of protesters from opposition parties towards Islamabad, aiming to bring the capital to a stand still until the fate of Imran Khan is decided through the opposition led No Confidence Voting; the capital braces for what seems like a final showdown by the government and the opposition.

Amid persisting political chaos and growing influx of protesters from opposition parties towards Islamabad, aiming to bring the capital to a stand still until the fate of Imran Khan is decided through the opposition led No Confidence Voting; the capital braces for what seems like a final showdown by the government and the opposition. Imran Khan's premiership is faced with a massive challenge posed by the opposition alliance, comprising of at least 20 opposition parties, who, after 3 years of sitting in the opposition benches, have now decided to take on Imran Khan and ensure that he is off-thrown his seat as the Prime Minister of the country, through a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly of Pakistan. They now feel confident of ousting Khan after many of the members of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Pakistan (TTP) along with ally political parties, have defected and sided with the opposition parties, injecting confidence into the opposition rank that this time, they will be able to get the golden number of a 172 votes, required to claim majority during the no-confidence voting. Also read | Pak opposition accuses PM Imran Khan of buying time to muster support after delay in no-confidence motion With the political temperature hitting boiling point, Pakistan's Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has hinted towards calling for early elections, which he said may be called immediately after the federal budget for fiscal year 2022-23 is presented. During a press conference, Rasheed said that he had advised Prime Minister Imran Khan to call for elections after the budget, insisting that Khan`s popularity had increased in the wake of opposition's no-confidence motion against him. "I am asking for early elections after presenting a good budget because this incompetent opposition has allowed us to win again", he said. "When the Pakistani nation sees their opposition leaders' faces, they switch channels," he added. Taking a jibe on opposition leader and PML-N leader Shahbaz Sharif, Rasheed said, "this is the same Shahbaz Sharif who says Nawaz Sharif greatly respects Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and the army". Also read | Witchcraft, theft, corruption: It's mud-slinging time in Pak ahead of a no-confidence vote "Where did the 'vote ko izzat do' go? The vote has been sold at shops, they have insulted democracy", he added reminding of Nawaz Sharif`s statements where he blamed the country`s military establishment for ousting him from power. Rasheed also said that the no-confidence voting was likely to take place on the April 3 or April 4, adding that the defected may be promising opposition benches of their support, but on the day of the voting, they will not vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan. Watch | Pakistan political turmoil: Imran Khan rejects speculation of involvement of army

Pakistan may go into early elections, says Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed

Pakistan announced a budget Friday of 8.4 trillion rupees ($54 billion) for the next fiscal year, basing it on an ambitious growth target of 4.5 percent and tripling spending on public sector development with an election just two years away.

Pakistan announced a budget Friday of 8.4 trillion rupees ($54 billion) for the next fiscal year, basing it on an ambitious growth target of 4.5 percent and tripling spending on public sector development with an election just two years away. Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin's presentation to the National Assembly drew jeers from opposition lawmakers, who thumped their desks and chanted "Imran Khan is a thief", a reference to the Prime Minister. Khan has presented himself as a champion of the poor and pledged to lift the country out of poverty, but Pakistan is heavily indebted and desperate for foreign investment. Rising inflation has left many struggling with higher food prices and energy bills. Tarin said the budget earmarked some 3 trillion rupees to retire or service current debt. "We were on the verge of default because of past governments' bad governance but now we have overcome that crisis," Tarin said. The budget earmarks 2.135 trillion rupees on public development, including job-creating infrastructure projects -- a huge increase from this year's 1.532 billion. "The weaker segment of society has been yearning for prosperity for many years and now sustainable growth is needed," Tarin told legislators, saying the budget would be nearly four billion rupees in deficit. "We expect trickle-down effects with our budgetary measures," he said. Spending on the military -- which has swallowed a huge chunk of Pakistan's riches since the country came into being with the partition of India in 1947 -- will rise six percent to 1.4 trillion rupees. Tarin said Pakistan's current account was in surplus for the first time in years on the back of unprecedented remittances and rising exports. To fund the budget, the government has set a tax revenue collection target of nearly six trillion rupees, compared with 4.5 trillion this year. The finance minister said some 140 billion rupees had been set aside to vaccinate the 220 million-strong population against Covid-19. Mohammad Sohail, financial manager and CEO of Topline Securities, said the budget was a "confidence-building exercise". "The biggest challenge will be to deal with IMF (International Monetary Fund) and rising commodity prices," he said. Independent economist Shahid Hasan Siddiqui was more dismissive. "This whole budget is based on erroneous figures and false hopes," he said. "This budget will further distance the country from economic autonomy."

Pakistan announces budget of $54 billion for next fiscal year

Nepal Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada, said the government of Nepal has decided to construct the 750 MW hydel project on its own scrapping the agreement with the China Three Gorges Corporation (CTGC).

Nepal Finance Minister made this announcement while unveiling the first federal budget for the fiscal year 2018-19.

Since 2012, Nepal's power project which was occupied by the Chinese Company, CWE Investment Corporation with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was stuck in limbo.

Hence, Nepali government made the decision of scrapping the deal on the suggestion given by a separate committee.

The reservoir type project located in far West Nepal couldn't be completed as the company demanded an increase in the power purchase rate.

A year ago, it had provided Nepali government with an alternative to reduce the production capacity to 600 MW, in case the government of Nepal was not willing to increase the price.

According to the pact signed between the two sides, the Chinese Company, under the CTGC will have a 75 percent stake in the project and the rest 25 percent will be held by the Nepal Electricity Authority.

The project with the reservoir covers Baitadi, Bajhang, Dadeldhura and the District of Nepal and is expected to produce about 1.8 billion units of electricity per year. The project with the 207-meter tall dam was estimated to cost 1.8 billion US Dollars including the interest charges or 1.4 Billion US Dollars excluding the interest charges.&nbsp

Nepal Finance Minister made this announcement while unveiling the first federal budget for the fiscal year 2018-19

Nepal Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada, said the government of Nepal has decided to construct the 750 MW hydel project on its own scrapping the agreement with the China Three Gorges Corporation (CTGC). Nepal Finance Minister made this announcement while unveiling the first federal budget for the fiscal year 2018-19. Since 2012, Nepal's power project which was occupied by the Chinese Company, CWE Investment Corporation with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was stuck in limbo. Hence, Nepali government made the decision of scrapping the deal on the suggestion given by a separate committee. The reservoir type project located in far West Nepal couldn't be completed as the company demanded an increase in the power purchase rate. A year ago, it had provided Nepali government with an alternative to reduce the production capacity to 600 MW, in case the government of Nepal was not willing to increase the price. According to the pact signed between the two sides, the Chinese Company, under the CTGC will have a 75 percent stake in the project and the rest 25 percent will be held by the Nepal Electricity Authority. The project with the reservoir covers Baitadi, Bajhang, Dadeldhura and the District of Nepal and is expected to produce about 1.8 billion units of electricity per year. The project with the 207-meter tall dam was estimated to cost 1.8 billion US Dollars including the interest charges or 1.4 Billion US Dollars excluding the interest charges.

Nepal to construct West Seti hydel project itself, scraps Chinese contract