News

Budgetary disillusionment runs high

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

Forging a solid reforms agenda

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

Finance: Resolving to reform

Pakistan enters the FY26 budget season at a critical crossroads — grappling with persistent vulnerabilities, yet infused with a renewed sense of resolve. The brief but consequential May 7–10 conflict with India has left a lasting imprint — not only on resource allocation but also on national sentiment. This moment, though born out of adversity, presents a unique opportunity for economic realign

PSX recovers 7.5pc in May despite a brief war with India

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) attracted renewed buying interest across all sectors following the easing of geopolitical tensions and clarity on the federal budget announcement, which helped the benchmark KSE 100 index close the outgoing week on a positive note. The expected relief package for the agricultural sector and measures to boost exports and industrial growth in the upcoming budget

The cost of relief

ALTHOUGH bound by the IMF’s stern conditions, the federal government appears desperate to provide tax relief to middle-class salaried individuals as well as businesses, especially the real estate lobby, in the upcoming budget. This desire seems to have grown stronger in the aftermath of Pakistan’s recent tactical military win against India as the ruling party hopes to turn the ‘feel-good factor