As part of its strategic direction to declare ‘war on cash’, the federal government is likely to introduce differential tax and transaction rates for cash and digital payments across various sectors, including fuel pricing, in the upcoming budget. This is going to be the most crucial step among many other things that Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has been hinting at in recent days and may
Promises of prosperity often mask a chain of dependency. Across countries and through time, governments have insisted that their policies are designed to serve the common man. From the most advanced economies to the developing world, this narrative is persistent, and Pakistan is no exception. Governments primarily generate revenue through taxation and borrowing. As such, their objectives should
Textile exporters have urged the federal government to reverse policy measures in the upcoming budget that are disrupting supply chains critical to sustaining over $9 billion in value-added exports. In a joint letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) and the Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association
Citizens and entrepreneurs deserve a better deal. Acknowledging deep structural flaws and the need for fundamental reforms, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has pledged to make the upcoming budget a strategic document, one that provides clear direction to an otherwise rudderless economy. Mr Aurangzeb was reported to have remarked in Islamabad last week, “We are going to introduce bold measur
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb says, “The budget is not just about revenue and expenditure; it has to provide the strategic direction of where the economy is and where it is heading. So it’s our full effort to make this document more strategic, rather than just making the math work.” However, he maintained that “of course, we have to make the math work” and to make math work, the delay in