ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan (SCBAP) noted that the annual federal budget once again failed to meet the expectations of ordinary citizens and will exacerbate the consequences of rising inflation.
SCBAP President Mian Muhammad Rauf Atta in a statement on Thursday said that it appears that this budget relies heavily on cosmetic changes rather than structural reforms that could provide genuine relief to the public.
He said similar to the previous year, this budget is a deficit budget rather than a surplus budget, which places a burden on the middle and deprived classes. The government’s lavish spending must be reviewed, as it will raise concerns and deepen the distress among the general public.
It said that given the current inflation and the rising prices of essential commodities, this budget will expose the general public to increased vulnerability. Not long ago, salaries for the higher judiciary saw an unprecedented increase, and now extraordinary increase in the salaries and privileges of the Speaker, Chairman, and Members of Parliament has been approved.
On the contrary, maintaining the minimum wage at Rs37,000 is extremely unjustified and a clear example of lavish spending and clear mismanagement of resources. Clearly, focus was on providing subsidies to privileged class instead of offering support to the poor who truly deserve it.
Furthermore, the allocation of huge funds for non-developmental schemes is very concerning. It is crucial to understand that simply abolishing or merging ministries will not alleviate the suffering of the public; rather, the government needs to set an example by implementing austerity measures.
With the announcement of the 2025-2026 budget, it became clear that there is no relief for the general public from rising inflation. A series of heavy taxes have also been proposed on various essential items and businesses, which will not only further burden the public already grappling with inflation but will also discourage small-scale enterprises, IT/online-based businesses to operate in the best interest of economy.
“Despite the best efforts, we are unable to find any substantial allocation of funds for the education and health sectors. Additionally, structural changes within institutions like the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) are urgently needed. Empowering FBR officers with more unchecked power, especially when they have a history of coercion general public, will hinder efforts to broaden the tax net.”
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025