Will steer country out of 'difficult' time with this budget, PM Shehbaz Sharif assures nation

• PM Shehbaz Sharif congratulates Finance Minister Miftah Ismail on presenting “balanced, progressive and pro-people budget”.
• PM notes that presenting “budget in financially challenging times with so many constraints is no less than a herculean task”.
• Premier shares his thoughts on how govt is hoping to “shield financially weaker citizens from economic hardships”.

ISLAMABAD: Defending the budget presented by his government Friday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assured the nation that the finance bill will steer the country out of the “difficult” time that has been brought on by “recent years of economic mismanagement”.

“These are difficult times brought upon us by recent years of economic mismanagement. Through this budget, my government will steer our way out of these challenges by taking tough decisions while minimising the impact on vulnerable segments of the population,” said the premier.

In a Twitter thread, PM Shehbaz shared his thoughts on how the government was hoping to “shield financially weaker citizens from economic hardships” by taxing the “financially stronger people”.

“We have allocated billions of rupees for targeted subsidies. This amount is in addition to Rs344 billion allocated for Benazir Income Support Programme. Only deserving people to get the subsidy,” said PM Shehbaz. He added that the government has increased its employees’ salaries by providing a raise of 15% and merging the “ad hoc allowance in their basic pay”.

“The tax slabs have been revised. Those earning up to Rs1.2 million annually have been exempted from taxes. Government has decided to tax non-productive assets of the rich including 5% tax on the purchase of second property and increase in tax on luxury cars,” said the PM.

The premier also highlighted that his government has reduced the tax on the import and distribution of solar panels to zero, adding that a “zero tax has been announced for import of agricultural machinery and implants”.

PM Shehbaz believes the zero tax policy for the agricultural sector in some areas would be a “major step” to enable farmers and the sector to progress.

“Government has increased funding for Benazir Income Support Programme. Benazir scholarship programme has been extended to 10 million students,” said the PM.

PM Shehbaz concluded his thread by congratulating Finance Minister Miftah Ismail on presenting a “balanced, progressive and pro-people budget”. He added that making a “budget in financially challenging times with so many constraints is no less than a herculean task”.