Senate continues budget debate, calls for economic reforms, youth empowerment

ISLAMABAD, Jun 17 (APP):The Senate on Wednesday continued its debate on the federal budget 2026-27, with members from both the treasury and opposition benches presenting a range of proposals aimed at strengthening the finance bill and ensuring greater public welfare.

Several senators also highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic role in facilitating dialogue between Iran and the United States, appreciating the country’s efforts in helping avert a potentially dangerous regional conflict.

Participating in the debate, Senator Mohammad Abdul Qadir stressed that recommendations on the budget should focus on improving the lives of ordinary citizens. He noted that the government had successfully increased the tax-to-GDP ratio, describing it as a significant achievement and a step in the right direction. He expressed optimism that further economic targets would also be achieved.

The senator said the government had also managed to stabilize the foreign exchange rate, resulting in multiple economic benefits.

He commended efforts to control inflation and expressed hope that the economic team would continue pursuing policies aimed at providing relief to the public.

Emphasizing the need to boost exports, Abdul Qadir said Pakistan still has considerable untapped potential in international markets, particularly in sectors such as pharmaceuticals and other value-added products. He urged the government to seek input from all stakeholders to formulate effective export-oriented policies.

He underscored the importance of youth participation in economic development, saying that young people could play a vital role in increasing GDP growth. He called for the launch of more youth-focused initiatives and greater involvement of young people in income-generating projects.

The senator also advocated for increased allocations to the health and education sectors, while drawing attention to the financial burden on consumers caused by electricity capacity charges.

Senator Abid Sher Ali praised Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif for steering the country towards economic stability and addressing major national challenges. He said that when the government assumed office, it faced numerous difficulties, but prudent policies had gradually helped overcome many of them.

He also lauded Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi for their role in helping ease tensions between Iran and the United States through diplomatic engagement.

Criticizing the previous government, Sher Ali said it had failed to meet public expectations and was unable to formulate effective economic policies capable of addressing the country’s challenges.

Senator Azam Swati emphasized the need for sustained economic stability and urged the government to adopt effective measures to curb inflation and provide meaningful relief to citizens.

He stressed that a comprehensive economic strategy was essential to strengthen the national economy, promote sustainable growth, and create employment opportunities for the country’s youth.

Other senators also participated in deliberations on the Federal Budget 2026-27 in the sessions and presented recommendations for consideration before the passage of the Finance Bill.

Taking part in the budget debate in Senate, Poonjo Bheel of PPPP said the 18th Amendment was not created overnight rather it was the result of a nine-month consultation process involving the leadership of all major political parties.
Amendments were made to 102 out of 280 articles of the Constitution, making it one of the most significant constitutional reforms in Pakistan’s history, he said.
He said such an amendment could not simply be reversed by a few comments made on television or during informal discussions.
The amendment represented the collective will of the people of Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab, he added.
He said that the sacrifices of thousands of people were behind this achievement, and therefore it could not be rolled back easily.
Regarding water distribution issues, he said that farmers in Sindh were not receiving their rightful share of water.
He urged the larger province to consider the difficulties faced by farmers in smaller regions.
Regarding debt, he said that approximately 43 percent of the budget would be spent on repaying old loans. This, he argued, left very limited resources for development projects, education, and scholarships for young people.
Taking part in the debate, Hamid Khan of PTI said that country’s debt had doubled over the years and continued to increase at an alarming rate.
He said that economic stability could not exist without political stability.
He said that provinces must receive their fair share of national resources and revenues. Denying provinces their financial rights, he said, would make it difficult for them to provide essential services, support development projects, and address the needs of their people.
Later, the House was adjourned to meet again on Thursday at 12:30 pm.