Aurangzeb vows tax reform, enforcement push in ‘strategic’ Budget 2025–26

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has described Budget 2025–26 as a turning point aimed at overhauling Pakistan’s tax system, boosting enforcement without new taxes, and providing targeted relief to low-income earners. FinMin Aurangzeb presented the federal budget for fiscal year 2025–26 with a total outlay of Rs17.57 trillion, setting a 4.2% GDP growth target and announcing relief measures for the salaried class, while overall federal expenditure was slashed by 7%. Presenting the federal budget 2025-26 in the National Assembly, the finance minister highlighted that the budget for the upcoming fiscal year…

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Govt proposes over Rs39bn for higher education, Rs14bn for health

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday unveiled the Federal Budget 2025-26 with a total outlay of Rs17,573 billion. Addressing the budget session of the National Assembly, the finance czar said that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) would be given Rs39.5 billion for 170 projects, adding that this amount would help complete the ongoing projects. “An allocation of Rs4.8 billion has been made for 31 ongoing schemes in the domain of science and Technology,” he added. On the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, he said that…

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Govt plans to block non-filers from major transactions in Budget FY26

Under the proposed Budget 2025–26, the government plans to bar non-filers from buying vehicles, acquiring property, and opening bank accounts, a move that could effectively lock them out of Pakistan’s financial system. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced the sweeping curbs during his budget speech in the National Assembly on Tuesday. He said only those who submit tax returns and wealth statements will be allowed to carry out key financial transactions. Non-filers may also be banned from investing in securities and mutual funds, a move designed to tighten the net around…

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Govt proposes Rs2.55tr defence spending for upcoming fiscal year

The federal government on Tuesday proposed Rs2,550 billion spending for the defence sector for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2025-26, increasing it from Rs2,122 billion compared to the previous year. The finance minister presented the federal budget with a total outlay of Rs17.57 trillion, setting a 4.2% GDP growth target. Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, the finance minister said that the country faced security challenges and the armed forces rendered commendable services for the security of the motherland. He was referring to the Indian aggression against Pakistan, which…

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Carbon tax on petroleum products proposed to protect environment

The federal government has proposed a new carbon tax on petrol, high-speed diesel, and furnace oil in the federal budget for the next fiscal year. The move aimed to control excessive fuel consumption and generate revenue to protect the environment and green energy programmes. The proposed levy, which will initially stand at Rs2.5 per litre, is expected to come into effect for financial year 2025-26, increasing to Rs5 per litre in the financial year 2026-27. In May, the Petroleum Division (PD) formally submitted a summary to the Cabinet Committee for…

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Imported solar panels to face 18% tax under budget FY26 proposal

An 18% tax on imported solar panels has been proposed in the federal budget for 2025–26, aimed at boosting local manufacturing and correcting market imbalances. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, while presenting the budget, said the move was aimed at creating a level playing field between imported and locally produced solar panels. He added that the measure would play an important role in promoting Pakistan’s domestic solar industry, which has long struggled to compete with cheaper foreign alternatives. The minister said this proposal is part of a broader effort to fix…

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Budget FY26: Govt proposes major income tax relief for salaried class

The new federal budget brings potential relief for salaried workers in Pakistan, with the government aiming to lighten the income tax load for middle- and high-income earners. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, while presenting the federal budget for 2025–26 on Tuesday, said the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had made it a priority to support salaried individuals, who have long shouldered a disproportionate share of taxes. In line with that, the government has proposed across-the-board cuts in income tax rates for the salaried class. The biggest relief targets taxpayers earning up to…

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PM Shehbaz-led govt suggests 10% salary increase in FY26 budget

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led administration has proposed a 10% increase in salaries of federal government employees fro Grade 1 to 22. Speaking at the National Assembly floor during his budget speech for the Fiscal Year 2025-26, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb revealed the salary hike proposal along with a suggested 7% increase in pension of retired employees. Furthermore, the monthly allowance for differently abled employees was proposed to increase to Rs6,000 from the current Rs4,000 — reflecting an increase of Rs2,000. Expressing his views on the assembly floor, during a…

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Govt sets 4.2% growth rate, Rs14tr tax target for next fiscal year

ISLAMABAD: With a total outlay of Rs17.57 trillion, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday unveiled the federal budget for fiscal year 2025–26, setting a 4.2% GDP growth target and offering relief to the salaried class. The budget session, chaired by NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, was marred by the opposition’s protest, with lawmakers chanting slogans against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government. Starting his speech, Aurangzeb said he was honoured to present second budget for the incumbent government. He thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and others…

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PSX reacts positively to economic survey

The bourse opened strong on Tuesday after the Eid holidays, as investors welcomed growth signals from the Economic Survey and braced for fresh fiscal measures in the federal budget to be unveiled later in the day. “Stocks reached all-time high led by blue chip scrips as investors weigh Rs17.6 trillion record budget outlay with government approval of PSDP at Rs800 billion in the federal budget FY26 to be announced today,” said Ahsan Mehanti, Managing Director and CEO of Arif Habib Commodities. “Surging global crude oil prices, terms to resolve over…

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