PTI says ‘federal budget favours elite, ignores masses'

Business Recorder

18-06-2025

ISLAMABAD: The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday sharply criticised the federal budget for 2025-26, branding it 'the worst in the country's history' and accusing the government of favouring the elite while neglecting ordinary citizens.
Leading PTI's charge during the ongoing budget debate in the National Assembly, acting PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan criticised the absence of new development projects, accusing the government of failing to introduce economic reforms or curb inflation.
He described the budget as misleading, arguing that the reported 3.5 per cent inflation rate was far from reality. 'If that figure were accurate, the State Bank wouldn't maintain an 11 per cent policy rate.'
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He compared Pakistan's $62 billion federal budget to India's Uttar Pradesh state, which he claimed had a budget of $97 billion, highlighting inefficiencies and waste in government spending, including the presence of 16 directors general in Customs compared to India's five.
Barrister Gohar proposed tax relief measures, such as exempting individuals earning up to Rs2.2 million annually from income tax and abolishing stamp duty on property in Islamabad.
He strongly opposed a proposed amendment to Section 169, which would require taxpayers to deposit 50 per cent of disputed amounts to obtain stay orders. 'This strips taxpayers of their basic right to appeal,' he said.
Criticising the National Assembly's performance, he claimed it failed to meet even basic legislative standards, often convening for less than half an hour, and called the Rs15 billion allocation for the Assembly excessive compared to India's Rs5 billion for its much larger parliament.
Gohar also criticised Defence Minister Khawaja Asif for his silence when Punjab lawmakers approved a salary increase for themselves. He accused the minister of resorting to political rhetoric only after the issue gained traction in the federal capital, rather than taking any concrete steps to halt what he described as an unjustified pay hike.
He called for an end to what he described as abuse of power and expressed concern over reduced health and education budgets. 'There's not even a mention of artificial intelligence in the recent presented budget,' he regretted, praising the PTI's previous IT sector initiatives, which he claimed played a strategic role in past confrontations with India.
The PTI leader said the budget had been tailored to suit powerful interests, pointing to reduced tariffs on imported vehicles as evidence. He urged the government to adopt a more inclusive approach by considering opposition proposals, citing the example of former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who in the 1990s incorporated recommendations from his predecessor Atal Bihari Vajpayee as a gesture of bipartisan cooperation.
In contrast, several lawmakers from the ruling coalition and allied parties defended the budget. Minister for Water Resources Mueen Watto hailed it as 'ideal,' claiming it reflected prudent financial management. He claimed improved economic indicators such as declining inflation, increased foreign reserves, and rising remittances.
Addressing India's decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, he assured lawmakers that Pakistan would safeguard its water rights and announced Rs130 billion for expanding water storage infrastructure, including the Diamer-Bhasha, Mohmand, and Kurram-Tangi dams.
Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam said the budget included relief measures for employees and other vulnerable groups.
Syed Aminul Haq echoed government claims of economic recovery, adding that global financial institutions had recognised Pakistan's fiscal improvements.
However, criticism also emerged from within the House. Lawmakers across parties highlighted areas of concern, particularly under-funding in health and education. Shahida Begum, Shahida Akhtar Ali of JUI-F, and Sehar Kamran expressed dissatisfaction with the low budgetary allocation to these sectors.
'The government should allocate at least four per cent of GDP to education and health,' Akhtar Ali said, also noting that PTV employees had gone unpaid for three months.
Shazia Marri of the PPP rejected the proposed 18 per cent tax on solar panels and the carbon levy, while criticising the government's failure to raise the minimum wage. 'Employees' concerns are being ignored,' she said.
Shahram Khan Tarakai of PTI also opposed the solar panel tax, while Sadiq Ali Memon of PPP demanded it be scrapped and the minimum wage raised to Rs50,000.
Misbah Uddin and Anwar Ali Taj said the tribal districts had been overlooked in the budget and called for an updated Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) survey to include more deserving beneficiaries.
Syed Hussain Tariq and Abdul Aleem Khan underscored the importance of supporting the agricultural sector and achieving core economic goals.
Mohammad Ahmed Chattha advocated for motorway links to Wazirabad, while Ahmed Saleem Siddiqui proposed developing coastal tourism and the ship-breaking industry. Tehmina Daultana of ruling PML-N urged greater support for women, while Nikhat Shakeel Khan demanded better public transport in Karachi and poverty reduction measures.
Mian Khan Bugti praised the Rs250billion allocation for Balochistan and the focus on connectivity projects. Meanwhile, Muhammad Ilyas Chaudhry pushed for incentives for overseas Pakistanis to invest in the country. Shaista Khan paid tribute to the armed forces and federal leadership for their 'strong response' to Indian aggression, while accusing the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government of corruption and failing to deliver basic services.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025