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LAHORE, Jun 10 (APP):Parliamentary Secretary and Member Punjab Assembly (MPA) Muhammad Hassaan Riaz has termed the federal budget 2025-26 as a “true pro-poor” financial plan, praising the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government for presenting a relief-oriented budget in difficult economic circumstances.
Talking to APP following the budget speech by Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday, Riaz said the government employees, who contribute significantly to the national tax revenue, have rightfully been given relief through a 10 per cent salary increase and reduction in income tax on salaries.
He acknowledged the challenging economic situation of the country, stating, “Although Pakistan has emerged from a crisis, the economy is still under pressure. However, due to the consistent efforts of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and his financial team, inflation has been brought down and foreign exchange reserves have improved.”
Riaz expressed optimism that the economy is now set to take off, given the positive indicators and prudent financial policies.
Commenting on national security, he justified the increase in the defence budget, citing the historical Pakistan-India conflict and continued aggressive rhetoric from the Indian leadership. “A strong defence system is essential, and enhancing the defence budget is a timely and strategic decision,” he added.
He also welcomed the government’s move to restrict non-filers from making major financial transactions, including purchasing property and vehicles. “This is a bold step towards curbing the black money culture and promoting transparency in the financial system,” he said.
Concluding, Riaz expressed confidence in the future, saying, “Most of the tough times are behind us. Pakistan is now on the path to becoming a prominent economy in the world.”