It’s the same story around June every year as the federal budget approaches. First, there’s the hype, with media outlets trying to guess what the grand plan is and inviting experts. True to form, the industry associations double down on their lobbying, repeating their cliched tripes about how the discontinuation of a particular incentive will apparently trigger a bankruptcy domino. On the other
The last of the provinces to announce its budget, Balochistan revealed a Rs956 billion surplus budget last week. The budget may aim to address persistent socio-economic issues while setting the stage for sustainable development in one of the country’s most resource-rich yet neglected areas. However, the challenges it faces are substantially bigger than those of other provinces. Literacy crisis
The Senate Standing Committee on Finance has expressed dissatisfaction with tax measures announced in the budget 2024-25, lamenting that they appeared more aligned with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) priorities than national interests. The committee, led by Chairman Senator Saleem Mandiwalla, concluded its discussions on the Finance Bill 2024 on Saturday. The committee is set to deliver
At the last meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC), the highest decision-making body of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), in May, Pakistan requested Beijing to begin construction work on electricity generation projects and propose infrastructure schemes, like the Mainline-I railway project, for Chinese financing. The generation projects, according to Planning Minister Ahsan
In the run-up towards the usual rituals of unveiling the Economic Survey and announcing the budget, the government has given the indication to revive the 13th Five-Year Development Plan (2024–29). This vital aspect of our development performance has been in a moribund status for many years. Effectively, the ninth Five-Year Plan for the country was the last initiative that was assigned an offici