Aurangzeb promises power bill relief, salary class support in upcoming budget

ISLAMABAD: Federal Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb has revealed that the government is actively working on reducing electricity bills further by July or earlier, as part of a broader plan to offer economic relief to the public.

In an exclusive conversation with Geo News, the finance minister said that a comprehensive relief programme for the salaried class has been developed and will be reflected in the upcoming federal budget. However, he refrained from disclosing its exact details, adding that these would first be shared with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as part of ongoing negotiations.

Aurangzeb noted that around 98 percent of budget proposals have already been received from both public and private sectors. He emphasized that the preparation of the budget is being carried out in close coordination between the government and private stakeholders. Relevant parties will be informed beforehand regarding which of their proposals will be incorporated into the budget, he added.

The minister assured that explanations would also be provided for proposals that could not be implemented. “By 1st July, the budget will be enforced in its final form. After that, no changes will be made to ensure timely and effective implementation,” he clarified.

He expressed the hope that the IMF Executive Board will approve the staff-level agreement by May, adding that Pakistan has met all required targets set by the IMF, despite minor delays in some areas. “Those delayed targets have also been fulfilled,” he affirmed.

Regarding taxation, the finance minister said tax collection from traders has improved and urged that the trader-friendly scheme should not be directly linked to tax collection outcomes.

He also announced that the Tax Policy Division will begin functioning under the Finance Ministry later this calendar year, aiming for better coordination and policy implementation.