Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday confirmed his government’s obligation to give financial relief to the ordinary man and said their welfare would be at the heart of the federal budget for 2025–26, The Associated Press of Pakistan reported.
Chairman of a high -level meeting on budget preparations, the leader emphasized that all available resources would be mobilized to reduce the financial burden for groups with lower and intermediate income. “Giving relief to the ordinary man is our greatest priority,” he said.
The Prime Minister instructed the upcoming budget to focus on sustainable, export -driven growth and emphasized support for industry, job creation, agriculture, that, small and medium -sized businesses (SMEs) and the housing sector.
He highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships and youth vocational education and said both would play a critical role in promoting inclusive national development.
With reference to progress in reforms of the electricity sector, PM Shehbaz said the reduction in industrial electricity stars already yielded positive results and would help increase domestic production.
To further streamline governance and improve the business climate, the Prime Minister emphasized the government’s focus on automation and digitization aimed at improving transparency and facilitating investor facilitation.
He also reiterated the government’s obligation to entrust the federal structure and noted that the efforts to reduce the size of the federal government would continue in the next financial year.
Officials who oriented the meeting said that consultations with the private sector were underway in the last three months. Stakeholder abandonment sessions from various sectors had also been carried out to ensure an inclusive approach to budget making.
Participants were informed that both the five-year trade policy framework (2025-30) and the E-Commerce 2.0 frame would soon be completed. In addition, a customs rationalization plan in the works to improve trade is competitiveness.
A delegation of business people and financial experts present expressed confidence in the government’s financial direction and offered proposals for the budget. PM Shehbaz greeted input and instructed that feasible proposals were incorporated into the final budget document.
