ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister has described the newly unveiled federal budget for 2025–26 as reflective of the people’s hopes and needs, promising support for growth, stability, and social welfare.
Highlights of the Budget:
- Tax relief: The budget raises the income threshold for salaried workers, aiming to lessen the financial pressure on middle-income households.
- Energy and utilities: Significant investments have been allocated to improve power infrastructure, increase renewable energy deployment, and reduce both outages and consumer costs.
- Health and education funding: The plan includes increased allocation for public hospitals and schools, especially in under-served regions—supporting policy goals to enhance access and resources for citizens.
- Infrastructure development: Funds have been designated for national road projects, rural connectivity, and mass transit systems, part of a broader strategy to drive economic opportunity and job creation.
Government’s Rationale:
Officials argue the budget strikes a balance between fiscal prudence and social development. They maintain that while revenue measures will remain conservative, essential growth and relief initiatives have been prioritised.
Government spokespersons emphasised that this fiscal plan demonstrates a shift toward policies that directly benefit everyday citizens rather than serving narrow interests.
Reactions:
Business groups have cautiously welcomed the direction, citing positive signs for producer and consumer confidence. However, they have called for clear implementation frameworks and safeguards to ensure transparency.
Conversely, opposition leaders have raised concerns about the sufficiency of relief measures, particularly in the context of rising inflation and cost-of-living pressures.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.
