Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is addressing post-budget press briefing on key details of Budget 2025-26. The briefing began with journalists staging a walkout from Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb\u2019s post-budget 2025-26 press conference. The journalist were protesting the Federal Board of Revenue\u2019s (FBR) failure to provide a technical briefing on the Finance Bill 2025-26. The briefing, traditionally held to clarify tax proposals for media coverage, was not conducted yesterday. Responding to the boycott, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar acknowledged the journalists\u2019 concerns, stating their grievances were \u201cabsolutely valid\u201d and affirming their right to protest. Addressing the media, Tarar apologized and assured that the FBR chairman had committed to holding the technical briefing. \u201cI will speak to them; the technical briefing must take place,\u201d Tarar said, adding that he had joined the journalists in solidarity with their protest. Following Tarar\u2019s apology and assurance, the journalists ended their boycott of the press conference. FinMin Aurangzeb presser: Addressing the post budget presser, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb described the tariff rationalization as a \u201cmajor and important step\u201d in aligning Pakistan\u2019s trade and industrial policy with global standards. The initiative, he said, marks the beginning of a phased plan towards a simplified tariff regime, ultimately targeting an average tariff rate of just over 4 per cent. \u201cOverall, there are 7,000 tariff lines. Additional customs duty has been removed on 4,000 lines, and in 2,700 of those, the customs duty has also been reduced,\u201d the finance minister explained. \u201cOf these, around 2,000 tariff lines are directly linked to raw materials and intermediary goods used by the exporters.\u201d \u201cThis is a structural reform that hasn\u2019t been undertaken in the past 30 years. This is a huge step, and we\u2019re committed to taking it forward gradually.\u201d The government\u2019s broader goal, according to Aurangzeb, is to reshape Pakistan\u2019s tariff architecture in a way that supports industrial growth and integrates the economy more deeply into global supply chains. The minister said, the tariff reforms were more than a fiscal measure, they mark a fundamental shift in Pakistan\u2019s economic model, aimed at dismantling the long-standing protectionist regime and laying the foundation for sustainable, export-led growth. Highlighting the significance of the policy shift, Aurangzeb said the reduction and elimination of customs duties on thousands of tariff lines will enable more efficient allocation of both capital and human resources within the economy. \u201cThis is not just about reducing duties\u2014it\u2019s about transforming the overall macroeconomic framework,\u201d the minister stated. When we bring down protection, we improve resource allocation, which is crucial for economic efficiency and competitiveness. The reforms are designed to gradually replace import substitution with export promotion, a pivot the government considers essential for addressing Pakistan\u2019s recurring balance of payments crises and dollar liquidity pressures. \u201cIf we want to structurally reposition the country towards export-led growth, we need to change the very DNA of the economy,\u201d Aurangzeb said. \u201cThat\u2019s how we avoid falling into the same cycle of dollar shortages every time we try to grow.\u201d The minister touched on broader fiscal measures aimed at ensuring equity and sustainability, particularly for salaried individuals and mid-sized businesses. He noted that the government has offered as much relief as possible to the salaried class within the constraints of available fiscal space. \u201cThis is the direction of travel, where do we want to take the salaried class?\u201d he said. \u201cDifferent slabs, including at the highest levels, have been carefully considered. From both my perspective and the Prime Minister\u2019s, we provided as much relief as the fiscal space allows.\u201d He also pointed to the phased reduction of the super tax on mid-sized corporations as part of the government\u2019s commitment to improving the business climate. \u201cEven if it\u2019s just a 0.5% reduction, it sends an important signal to the market,\u201d Aurangzeb added. The government, he said, announced a series of targeted reforms in the construction and agriculture sectors aimed at reducing transaction costs, supporting affordable housing, and ensuring credit access for small farmers. Addressing recent concerns around construction-related taxes, the minister clarified that while overall tax liability has not been reduced, the government restructured the system to lower transaction costs, particularly for buyers. In a bid to promote homeownership, the government is also prioritizing access to mortgage financing. \u201cAs important as the fiscal side is, access to credit is equally important,\u201d the minister said. He informed that, in collaboration with the State Bank of Pakistan, the government is preparing to launch a new housing finance scheme to enable individuals to build homes through accessible credit. On the agriculture front, Aurangzeb described this sector as a crucial one for economic growth. He clarified that additional taxes on fertilizer and pesticide were to be implemented last June, however government negotiated with International Monetary Fund (IMF) and got it delayed till this year. The minister said, strengthened enforcement mechanisms have helped the federal government generate over Rs400 billion in additional revenues this fiscal year. He noted that while international stakeholders had previously doubted Pakistan\u2019s ability to implement tax laws effectively, the government has now demonstrated that meaningful enforcement is possible. He said, tax-to-GDP ratio was projected to reach 10.4% this year and to 10.9% in FY2025-26. As part of the broader reform agenda, the government is preparing to move forward with a legislative push, engaging both houses of Parliament to introduce amendments aimed at strengthening tax enforcement. Aurangzeb emphasized that legal backing will be critical to institutionalize compliance and sustaining revenue growth. To a question, the minister said, the increases in salaries and pensions were directly linked to the headline inflation, Consumer Price Index (CPI), ensuring adjustments reflect inflationary pressures. He reaffirmed the government\u2019s commitment to agriculture as the central engine of economic growth, with a particular focus on dairy and livestock, which account for 60% of the sector\u2019s GDP. \u201cAgriculture has been, and will remain, the backbone of our economy,\u201d he said, adding that greater federal policy coordination is needed on devolved subjects like seed technology, mechanization, and agri-financing. On the fiscal front, he reported a modest 1.9% rise in government expenditure, crediting prudent financial management. He said, despite inflation at 7.5%, the government managed to contain subsidies and reduce debt servicing, while selectively increasing spending where necessary for national priorities, Aurangzeb said. It is worth mentioning here that Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presented the Rs 17.573 trillion Budget for 2025-26 in the National Assembly yesterday. He stated this was the coalition government\u2019s second budget and highlighted the government\u2019s success in achieving a primary surplus of 2.4 percent of GDP. Inflation, he noted, had also significantly decreased to 4.7 percent due to timely policy measures. Opposition protests during Budget 2025-26 session: The session was marred by loud protests from opposition parties, including PTI and members of the Sunni Ittehad Council. They rejected what they called an IMF-backed budget and accused the government of lacking the mandate to present it. Chaos ensued in the House as opposition lawmakers tore up budget documents and shouted slogans. During the disturbance, PML-N legislators gathered near Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who was seen meeting with several party members.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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