ISLAMABAD, Jun 17 (APP):Lawmakers from the government benches on Wednesday praised the Budget 2026–27, terming it the best possible financial plan under challenging economic conditions, while opposition members called for salary increases, relief measures, and greater focus on the agriculture sector. Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPP) leader Shazia Marri, participating in the general discussion, acknowledged economic challenges and said her party supported parliamentary cooperation despite prevailing difficulties. She said Pakistan …
Govt. calls budget 2026–27 “best possible plan” as opposition demands relief, salary hike
ISLAMABAD, Jun 17 (APP):Lawmakers from the government benches on Wednesday praised the Budget 2026–27, terming it the best possible financial plan under challenging economic conditions, while opposition members called for salary increases, relief measures, and greater focus on the agriculture sector.
Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPP) leader Shazia Marri, participating in the general discussion, acknowledged economic challenges and said her party supported parliamentary cooperation despite prevailing difficulties.
She said Pakistan was facing complex regional and global challenges that required consensus-based policy making.
She also referred to debates on constitutional and financial arrangements, including the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, saying her party supported constitutional protections for provinces after internal deliberations.
Marri criticised the rising burden of indirect taxation and inflation, questioning official poverty indicators and arguing that increasing living costs were not reflected in statistical classifications.
Referring to social protection initiatives, she said programmes such as the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) were essential for supporting low-income households and stimulating economic activity, urging that such schemes should remain free of political influence.
She also highlighted development concerns in Balochistan, calling for greater local benefit from natural resources and industrial processing within the province.
She stressed the need to address grievances related to salaries and allowances of public sector employees, particularly security personnel.
Marri emphasised upon youth development, warning against negative narratives about Pakistan’s future and calling for national unity and equal opportunities across all regions. She also welcomed recent diplomatic developments and praised national leadership for efforts toward regional stability.
She lauded President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, saying Pakistan’s progress reflected collective effort and stability.
She said Pakistan had consistently supported dialogue and diplomacy and had made significant sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, referring to incidents such as the Army Public School (APS) attack.
Turning to domestic politics, she referred to her visit to Gilgit-Baltistan, praising political engagement during the election period and paying tribute to the legacy of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, and Asif Ali Zardari in expanding political and administrative rights in the region.
She urged respect for electoral mandates and called for democratic restraint and maturity in political discourse.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman, Gohar Ali Khan criticised the federal budget, raising governance concerns and calling for institutional reforms, while also highlighting issues related to public welfare, taxation, and accountability.
He said parliamentary engagement required restraint and responsibility, urging efforts to strengthen democratic institutions.
He also offered “unconditional cooperation” for democracy, constitutional rule, and protection of citizens’ rights.
He referred to pending political negotiations and said his party’s demands were constitutional, including access to legal rights and resolution of cases involving detained party members.
He also proposed a structured framework for parliamentary cooperation to ensure accountability and legislative stability.
He welcomed Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement in regional affairs, including efforts involving Iran and the United States, and praised Pakistan’s role in promoting peace in the Middle East, including support for an independent Palestine.
He raised concerns over inflation, indirect taxation, and rising fuel and utility costs, urging a review of the government’s taxation strategy.
Parliamentary Secretary for Water Resources, Rana Ansar praised Pakistan’s armed forces and leadership, saying the country had gained global respect through recent diplomatic efforts.
She said citizens stood with state institutions and expressed hope for peace and prosperity, while paying tribute to the government and military leadership for their roles in national security and diplomacy. However, she raised concerns over the federal budget, particularly the lack of focus on women.
She said women contribute nearly half the population but appeared to lack dedicated development allocations and called for stronger gender-responsive budgeting.
She also termed the proposed seven percent salary increase insufficient amid inflation and urged its revision.
Rana Ansar expressed concern over taxation on infant nutrition products, warning of negative impacts on child health and development.
She stressed that children’s nutrition and education must be prioritised in policy making.
She highlighted delays in key infrastructure projects, including the K-IV water scheme for Karachi, warning that reliance on tanker systems and water mafias was worsening the crisis.
She called for improved drainage and sewerage systems in Karachi and Hyderabad to address urban flooding, disease outbreaks, and infrastructure weaknesses during monsoon seasons.
She urged strengthening local government institutions, warning that weak district-level governance was undermining public service delivery. She also raised concerns about drug use among students and called for stronger preventive measures.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Raja Khurram Shahzad praised civil and military leadership, saying Pakistan had successfully avoided a major global conflict and strengthened its international standing.
He highlighted inequalities in Islamabad’s education system, pointing to disparities between elite schools and under-resourced institutions serving the majority population.
He called for improved facilities, trained teachers, and early introduction of modern subjects, including artificial intelligence.
He warned of a growing water crisis in Islamabad and proposed construction of small dams and improved water supply systems. He also called for balanced urban development and equal access to basic services.
On health, he noted pressure on major hospitals such as Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Polyclinic, calling for new healthcare facilities and timely completion of delayed projects.
He raised concerns about unemployment among Islamabad’s youth and urged a dedicated job quota for local residents. He also demanded establishment of a separate legislative assembly for the federal capital.
Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPP) leader Naz Baloch also congratulated national leadership for diplomatic achievements and said Pakistan had played a constructive role in regional peace efforts.
She stressed that budget discussions should focus on financial matters rather than political point-scoring.
She called for inclusive governance in Karachi, rejecting ethnic divisions and emphasising equal rights for all residents.
Baloch raised concerns over inflation, rising electricity costs, and unemployment, while warning about climate change impacts on agriculture and livelihoods.
She criticised climate-related levies on fuel and questioned their utilisation. She also highlighted insufficient investment in the Information Technology sector and called for greater focus on digital skills and youth training.
She pointed to issues in the power sector, including circular debt, load-shedding, and rising utility costs, and urged exploration of alternative energy sources.
