Budget features bold measures for ‘strategic direction’

Promising simplified tax returns for the salaried class, Finance Minister Muhammad Aura­ng­zeb on Monday pledged that the up­co­ming federal budget would int­ro­duce “bold measures” to steer the national economy in a strategic direction and make available whatever support is required by the armed forces. Talking to journalists after an event organised by the Pakistan Banks Association and Karandaaz Pakistan, the finance minister said that every possible support would be provided to the armed forces, stressing that it was a national need in light of recent cross-border aggression, not just a military requirement. Responding to a question, he said the IMF mission and its regional dir­e­ctor, Jihad Azour, and executive dir­ector, Bahador Bijani, had retur­ned after concluding the mission in Islam­abad and completing discussions on the broad contours of the budget.