ISLAMABAD: Opposition parties launched a broadside against the federal budget on Saturday, blasting the government's economic policies, taxation measures and growing provincial grievances a day after a Rs18.77 trillion budget for FY2026-27 was unveiled, targeting continued economic stabilisation and adherence to IMF fiscal benchmarks.
Opposition Leader's Remarks
Opening the budget debate in the National Assembly, Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai asserted that concerns of people in Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and other deprived regions must be addressed, saying that the people of each province should have the primary right over their natural resources. Achakzai warned that freezing provincial development allocations would come at the expense of health and social sector spending.
Call for Provincial Control
The opposition leader also called for greater provincial control over resources, arguing that despite producing natural gas, Balochistan remained deprived of its benefits. He demanded recognition that the first right over a province's resources belonged to its people and said such a move would help ease tensions. He also highlighted the case of imprisoned Pashtun politician Ali Wazir and urged reconciliation.
PTI Chairman's Critique
Similarly, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said opposition concerns remained unanswered and argued that economic stability could not be achieved without political stability. He called for allowing meetings with PTI founder Imran Khan and said political dialogue should be pursued if negotiations could be held on other national and international issues.
JUI-F Lawmaker's Objections
JUI-F lawmaker Naeema Kishwar Khan slammed the expansion of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), arguing that the government should prioritise technical training and employment opportunities for young people instead of assistance packages. She also sought details regarding budget allocations for women, merged tribal districts and ordinary citizens, while denouncing the government's reliance on IMF prescriptions and interest-based borrowing.
MQM-P Leader's Concerns
MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar said the federal budget fell short of public expectations. Pointing to prolonged power outages in Karachi and regional disparities across the country, he urged the government to adopt policies that promote balanced development and economic self-reliance.
PPP Lawmaker's Allegations
PPP lawmaker Shehla Raza alleged that the budget was being constrained by IMF conditions and questioned the performance of the Federal Board of Revenue. She lamented the increases in petroleum levy collections, argued that the tax authority had failed to document the economy effectively, and suggested that revenue collection responsibilities should be devolved to the provinces.
Additional PTI Criticism
PTI lawmakers Rana Atif, Sher Afzal Marwat and Nisar Jutt also mounted criticism of the budget. Rana Atif argued that the government was relying heavily on petroleum levies despite declining per capita income and rising economic pressures.
