The budget we do not need

The federal budget with a total outlay of Rs18.877 trillion for the fiscal year 2024-25 presented by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb bears no relief for the ordinary people. Except for a few things like import of solar panels and related raw materials and equipment, all other items have been taxed heavily, which directly causes a surge in prices of commodities and other accessories of daily use. On the face of it, the salaries were raised by 20 and 25 per cent respectively but the taxes levied on the salaried class in the budget render this increase somewhat futile.

There seems to be no decrease in the prices of food items because of the heavy general sales tax imposed on them. The budget reflects the measures suggested and dictated solely by the IMF and other foreign donor agencies and is really a serious setback for the impoverished segments of the country. The elite class has, however, been facilitated from every angle as they are considered the real stakeholders in the faltering economy of this country.

Guldar Ali Khan Wazir

Zhob