The leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party Workers (PPPW), including Senator Dr Safdar Ali Abbasi, President PPPW, Ms Naheed Khan, former Member National Assembly and Political Assistant to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Fayyaz Ali Khan and Advocate Amjad Ali Baloch, Senior Vice Presidents PPPW, Waheed Afzal Golra, Kunwar Zahid, Secretary General PPPW, and Rai Qaiser, Information Secretary PPPW, have strongly rejected the Federal Budget 2026-27. They described it as an IMF-driven, anti-people budget that fails to address the growing hardships faced by ordinary Pakistanis.
Economic Concerns Highlighted
The PPPW leadership stated that despite government claims of economic stability, inflation, unemployment, high utility costs, and declining purchasing power continue to erode the living standards of the people. The burden of economic adjustment remains concentrated on salaried employees, pensioners, labourers, farmers, small traders, and the middle class, while many affluent sectors remain outside the effective tax net.
Mounting Debt Burden
The party expressed concern over Pakistan’s mounting debt burden, which continues to divert resources away from education, healthcare, employment generation, scientific research, and social welfare. The budget also fails to present a credible strategy for broadening the tax base, documenting the economy, and reducing dependence on external borrowing.
Inadequate Allocations Criticized
PPPW further criticised the inadequate allocations and lack of vision for education, healthcare, youth development, employment creation, entrepreneurship, and social welfare. It also noted the absence of a comprehensive plan to address climate change, water scarcity, environmental degradation, and disaster preparedness despite Pakistan’s growing vulnerability to these challenges.
Call for Political Stability
The leadership emphasised that sustainable economic recovery and investor confidence cannot be achieved without political stability, democratic engagement, and national consensus. In this regard, the party called for the release of all political prisoners, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan, and urged all stakeholders to pursue dialogue and reconciliation within the framework of the Constitution.
Reaffirming Bhutto Legacy
Reaffirming its commitment to the vision of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the PPPW reiterated its support for policies based on social justice, democratic freedoms, constitutional supremacy, economic self-reliance, and the welfare of the people. The PPPW believes that the Federal Budget 2026-27 is a missed opportunity to provide meaningful relief, strengthen human development, and build national consensus at a critical moment for Pakistan. The party will continue to advocate policies that place the welfare of citizens above all other considerations.
