46 h. ago Lawmakers urge tax relief, slam harsh measures in federal budget debate

ISLAMABAD – Lawmakers from across party lines voiced strong concerns during the National Assembly’s budget debate on Saturday, calling for meaningful tax relief for the public and opposing aggressive tax enforcement measures. While some appreciated key incentives, many demanded greater fairness and economic balance in the 2025-26 federal budget. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan […]

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2 d. ago Salaried class still faces heavy Rs535 billion tax burden despite budget relief

The government plans to collect Rs535 billion in income tax from the salaried class in FY 2025-26, despite offering only Rs56 billion in tax relief. The relief comes from a 2% to 4% reduction in tax rates across various salary slabs. However, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance called this relief a “joke,” saying […]

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3 d. ago IMF rejection halts Pakistan’s $6 billion refinery upgrade plans

Pakistan’s plans to upgrade its oil refineries hit a roadblock after the IMF rejected key government proposals linked to tax relief. The proposals were designed to support $6 billion in investment aimed at producing cleaner, Euro-V standard fuels. This decision has stalled the upgrade projects, according to officials from the Petroleum Division. The government had […]

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5 d. ago Tax relief proposed for fertilizers, pesticides—but farmers still disappointed

In the newly announced federal budget 2025–26, the Pakistani government has proposed to continue sales tax exemptions on fertilizers and pesticides, in an attempt to support the agriculture sector, considered the backbone of the economy. Despite this relief, key stakeholders have voiced dissatisfaction, saying many promises remain unfulfilled. During his budget speech in Parliament, Finance […]

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1 week ago IMF approves defence budget hike, tax cuts for salaried class in major relief move

ISLAMABAD – In a significant breakthrough, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has agreed to two key demands from Pakistan: increasing the defence budget and providing tax relief to the salaried class, according to official sources. The government successfully convinced the IMF that rising national security needs could not be delayed. As a result, the IMF […]

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2 w. ago Govt may hike tax on bank profits to fund relief for salaried class

In an attempt to offer some relief to the salaried class, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is considering increasing tax on interest income by 2%. This tax would apply to interest earned from commercial banks and savings schemes. The proposal is part of budget discussions for the fiscal year 2025–26 and is under review […]

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2 w. ago Salaried class likely to get tax relief in budget after IMF approval

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reportedly agreed to provide income tax relief to the salaried class in the 2025-26 federal budget, it is learnt. The global lender has given “in-principle” approval to slash income tax rates across various salary brackets. The proposed relief is expected to cost the government between Rs56 billion and Rs60 […]

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2 w. ago Govt to end tax relief for tribal areas in next budget, aims to raise Rs45 billion

The federal government plans to end the sales tax exemption for former tribal areas in the upcoming 2025-26 budget. This move could help the government raise over Rs45 billion in revenue. The decision will also impact electricity supplies to the ex-FATA and PATA regions, ending years of tax relief provided after their merger with Khyber […]

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3 w. ago No final decision yet on civil, military salaries; tax relief planned for salaried class: Finance Minister

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said that no final decision has been made yet on salary increases for civil and military employees in the upcoming budget. However, the government is actively working on measures to reduce the tax burden on the salaried class. Speaking at an event in Islamabad, Aurangzeb stated, “While no concrete announcement […]

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3 w. ago IMF ties tax relief for salaried class to reduced public expenditure

As negotiations between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) near conclusion, the global lender has conditioned any meaningful tax relief for salaried individuals, property owners, beverage producers, and exporters on substantial reductions in government expenditure. The IMF team, which is wrapping up its visit to Islamabad on Friday, has made it clear that increased […]

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4 w. ago Second round of IMF budget talks begins, govt may offer tax relief to salaried class

ISLAMABAD – The second round of budget talks between Pakistan’s economic team and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has officially begun, with discussions focused on finalizing revenue and spending plans for the upcoming fiscal year. A key point of the talks includes potential income tax relief for salaried individuals. According to sources, the government plans […]

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