The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has categorically rejected the federal budget for the fiscal year 2026-27, denouncing the government's economic proposals and alleging that they place an undue burden on ordinary citizens. In a media address, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram characterized the budget as a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) agenda that primarily benefits the wealthy while offering negligible relief to low- and middle-income groups.
PTI Criticizes Budget as Pro-Rich
Sheikh Waqas Akram argued that the budget serves the interests of the affluent at the expense of the general public. He accused the government of relying on manipulated figures to present its economic outlook for the upcoming fiscal year. The PTI leader further claimed that the government's fiscal strategy focuses on pressuring compliant taxpayers rather than implementing meaningful structural reforms to broaden the tax base and improve revenue collection.
According to Akram, successive budgets in recent years have imposed additional taxes on citizens, while large-scale tax evasion and systemic economic challenges remain inadequately addressed. He asserted that the latest budget fails to provide genuine public relief and, therefore, stands rejected by his party.
PTI Protests in National Assembly
During the National Assembly's budget session, PTI lawmakers staged a protest by gathering around the speaker's dais and tearing copies of the budget documents in a demonstration against the government's proposals. The opposition party also boycotted Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb's budget speech, highlighting growing political tensions over the government's economic agenda and fiscal policies for the coming year.
The government, meanwhile, raised the minimum wage by 10% and abolished the salaried class surcharge, measures that PTI argues are insufficient to address the economic hardships faced by the common man.
