Upper House witnesses mix reaction over budget 2024-25

The Senate saw a divided response to the budget on Friday. While the opposition demanded a review of the increase in taxes on the salaried class in addition to providing additional relief to the public, the Treasury benches characterised the budget as pro-people and relief oriented. Senator Raja Nasir Abbas of the MWMP began the budget debate by claiming that the budget provided no assistance to the impoverished masses. He said that the health and education sectors did not receive enough funding. He said that there was no future economic plan in the budget. According to him, industrial issues should be given top attention because they are crucial to the nation’s exports. An increase in the petroleum levy would contribute to national inflation. It is the government’s responsibility to make the budget accessible to all.