ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Miftah Ismail Friday unveiled the coalition government's maiden federal budget for the fiscal year 2022-23 in order to stabilise economic growth and control the increasing inflation.
“The budget 2022-23 is a growth budget. It is based on a well-thought-out strategy to boost the economic growth earlier outlined in the medium-term budgetary strategy paper for FY23 to FY25, which gave a clear roadmap of the strategic priorities, revenue and spending policies of the government,” the document released by the Ministry of Finance read.
Here is a list of the salient features of the federal budget:
GDP growth target at 5%
GDP projected at Rs78.3 trillion against Rs67 trillion this year
Inflation expected at 11.5% in FY23 against 11.7% in FY22
Tax-to-GDP to be taken to 9.2% in FY23 against 8.6% in FY22
The fiscal deficit is to be reduced to 4.9% in FY23 against 8.6% in FY22
The primary surplus is expected at 0.19% in FY23 against a primary deficit of 2.4% in FY22
Imports projected at $70bn in FY23 vs $76 billion in FY22
Exports projected at $3 billion in FY23 vs $31.3 billion in FY22
Remittances estimated at $33.2 billion vs $31.1 billion in FY22
Current account deficit projected at 2.2% of GDP in FY23 versus 4.1% of GDP in FY22
Total interest payment of Rs3,144 billion; domestic interest payment: Rs2,770 billion and external interest payment R373 billion
Debt ceiling at 60% of GDP
Overdue receivables of the petroleum sector are estimated at Rs284 billion, while next year's allocation has been set at Rs71 billion
Five-year tax holiday for film-makers, new cinemas, production houses
Fixed income and sales tax on small retailers — to be collected with electricity bills
100% depreciation adjustment in the first year of operations for corporates and businesses
Advance income tax at import stage to be made adjustable
People having more than one immovable property worth more than Rs25 million will be assumed to have 5% rental income on market value, which will be taxed at 1% of this fair market value
15% capital gains tax on immovable property on one year holding period, reducing by 2.5% for every additional year
Advance tax on filers to be increased to 2% from the previous 1% on purchase of property (non-filers: 5%)
People/companies with income above Rs300 million to pay an additional 2% tax