Budget 2025-26 termed balanced, growth-oriented

Lahore: Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry former President Iftikhar Ali Malik has termed the federal budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 balanced, growth-driven, and export-oriented, praising its attractive incentives aimed at reviving and accelerating economic activity across the country.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, he welcomed the reforms as historic and transformative, aimed at promoting ease of doing business. He noted that the measures introduced would pave the way for economic stability, strengthen key sectors, and bring much-needed relief to underprivileged segments of society.

‘The federal budget sets a proper direction for national economic growth and will significantly improve key indicators, including GDP,’ he said. ‘Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s wise and timely decisions will provide relief to the business community, while incentive packages will serve as a cushion to support economic expansion and boost exports,’ he added. He acknowledged that Pakistan’s economy was navigating a difficult phase, further complicated by the impacts of global climate change. However, he appreciated the government’s bold policy choices, particularly in the agriculture sector. He highlighted the allocation of record funds for research and development, and the promotion of modern agricultural techniques, including the mandatory use of high-tech hybrid seeds, as major steps towards transforming agriculture along scientific lines and improving per-acre yields. He expressed optimism that any concerns or irritants in the budget would be addressed in consultation with the business community, which he described as a cornerstone of the country’s financial strength.