Instead, the ministers focused their discourse on the alleged devastation left by the PTI government in the form of a ruined energy sector and a balance-of-payments crisis. Talk With IMF: Ismail said talks with the International Monetary Fund were in progress and would move towards a staff-level agreement after the budget was presented because that would have the required reforms for their satisfaction. Increase in Pentions & Salaries: The government would increase pensions and salaries of all with equity in the budget to make up for a 12-15pc rate of inflation, Ismail said. The budget deficit was estimated to be Rs5.1 trillion this year — the highest ever because of the previous government’s negligence and mismanagement, he said.