ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday described the federal budget for FY2026-27 as “people-friendly” and expressed hope that it would help strengthen an export-oriented economy.
He made these remarks during a meeting with women parliamentarians of the PML-N in Islamabad, where he appreciated their participation in the ongoing budget debate. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, he said the budget would help citizens benefit from relief measures, particularly after improved regional stability.
The prime minister said the government had prioritised measures to empower women and increase their participation in mainstream development, calling it a key policy focus. He also referred to Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts during the US-Iran tensions, thanking friendly countries for supporting peace initiatives.
PM Shehbaz praised the roles of Field Marshal Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in contributing to regional peace efforts. He stressed that lasting peace in the region was essential for long-term economic prosperity.
He further said the government had worked to shield the public from global inflationary pressures, highlighting a Rs128 billion relief package and austerity measures introduced earlier. He added that cooperation between federal and provincial governments had helped maintain economic stability.
Looking ahead, the prime minister said the next phase of the budget would focus on strengthening key sectors including water resources, information technology, agriculture, and minerals to build a stronger economic base.
During the meeting, women lawmakers appreciated the prime minister’s leadership and the government’s initiatives for women’s development. They also shared suggestions related to ongoing projects and constituency-level development needs.
The meeting was attended by several senior parliamentarians and federal ministers.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also termed the budget “positive and relief-oriented,” saying it was designed to reduce burden on the public and stimulate economic activity. He argued that the government had stabilised the economy through reforms, particularly in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), which he said had been modernised to improve transparency and tax collection.
Tarar said digitisation, merit-based hiring, and enforcement reforms had strengthened the tax system, enabling increased revenue collection. He added that sectors such as sugar, tobacco, cement, and beverages were being brought into a stricter tax net through monitoring systems.
He further claimed that the budget reduced taxes for salaried individuals, eased taxation for small housing schemes, and removed certain levies for exporters, including advance tax and super tax. According to him, the reforms were aimed at expanding the tax base while providing relief across sectors.
State Minister for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani also echoed these remarks, saying the budget provided relief to salaried workers, industries, exporters, and the construction sector. He added that measures had also been introduced to support youth and housing affordability, calling the budget a step toward broader economic relief and inclusion.