The Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) voiced strong criticism of the federal budget on Wednesday, stating it offers little to no support for the agriculture sector or the broader business community.
PBF Chief Organiser Ahmed Jawad said the budget contradicts the prime minister’s vision by excluding meaningful initiatives for agricultural growth. He questioned how the government expects to achieve its 4.5% growth target without any concrete measures in place.
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Jawad also expressed frustration over the minimal reduction in the super tax, describing it as “a pinch of salt in flour.” He warned that the new tax collection target of Rs14,131 billion could further fuel inflation and criticized the lack of a comprehensive strategy to expand the tax base.
However, the PBF did welcome certain steps, including the reduction of regulatory duty from 90% to 50%, which they called a “major shift.” Additionally, they praised the cuts in Federal Excise Duty (FED) and withholding tax in the property sector, expecting these changes to boost activity in real estate.
