Aurangzeb cuts development budget amid criticism

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced on Tuesday a Rs250 billion cut in the development budget and the withdrawal of Rs15 billion in taxes while granting three-month honorariums to Parliament employees. During his speech concluding the budget debate in the National Assembly (NA), Aurangzeb also relaxed conditions on foreign travel bans and introduced a 75% tax on non-filers. These measures were part of efforts to secure the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) support for the budget, despite sharp criticism from Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, who labelled the budget as one crafted by and for bureaucrats. Bhutto condemned the government for imposing taxes on essentials such as infant milk, packaged milk, educational materials, mobile phones, and computers. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar supported some of Bhutto’s recommendations, promising they would be addressed.