ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan is targeting higher economic growth of 6.2 percent in the 2018/2019 fiscal year, according to a budget document seen by Reuters on Friday.
The country had earlier projected 5.8 percent GDP growth in the current fiscal year that ends June 30.
Finance Minister Miftah Ismail unveiled the 2018/19 budget to parliament on Friday ahead of general elections expected by late July.
Opposition politicians, however, walked out of the budget presentation on Friday just as Ismail began speaking. The two main opposition parties have said it is improper to make a full-year budget with just months to go before the elections.
Ismail's budget presentation continued despite the walkout. His ruling party has said that if another party gains power after the elections, it is free to adjust the budget.
Pakistan's economy has rebounded in recent years due to a drop in militant violence and China's vast investment that has helped alleviate power shortages, with growth projected to hit a 13-year high of 5.8 percent this fiscal year (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).
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But a widening current account deficit and dwindling foreign currency reserves have taken some shine off the economic outlook, with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund warning of risks to the macroeconomy.
Pakistan's central bank has devalued the rupee by about 10 percent in two separate devaluations since December, boosting manufacturing exports that have lagged in recent years.
(Reporting by Asif Shahzad, Drazen Jorgic; Editing by Nick Macfie)