Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said that no final decision has been taken on increasing civil or military salaries ahead of the federal budget. However, he assured that the government is exploring ways to provide relief to salaried individuals through upcoming reforms.
Speaking at an event in Islamabad, Aurangzeb emphasized Pakistan’s continued support for its armed forces, calling it a national obligation rather than just a military requirement.
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He revealed that efforts had been made to block Pakistan’s case at a recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) board meeting, with attempts to delay the agenda. Despite this, Pakistan’s performance was evaluated on merit, and the country successfully met all IMF targets. He warned that failing to meet these benchmarks could have brought serious economic difficulties.
The minister noted that Pakistan’s economic turnaround has surprised many observers globally. He said the world now views the country’s macroeconomic indicators positively, and the government remains committed to deep structural reforms.
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Aurangzeb also highlighted progress in tax reforms, particularly within the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), where digitization is underway to reduce human interference and enhance transparency.
He added that the government is actively working to ease the tax burden on salaried employees, including simplifying tax deductions and introducing pension reforms. Aurangzeb expressed optimism that the burden of debt servicing would decline, allowing improved debt management next fiscal year.
He concluded by stating that Pakistan’s progress toward becoming a $400 billion economy signals positive momentum in the country’s financial landscape.