Ayub assails budget’s ‘economic terrorism’

As debate on the finance bill began on Thursday, Omar Ayub, the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly (NA), attacked the budget proposed for the fiscal year (FY) 2025, calling it “economic terrorism” against the people.
Last week, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb unveiled his first federal budget, which included an expenditure of Rs18.9 trillion. The upcoming year’s budget raises taxes on the salaried elite and eliminates tax exemptions for the remainder, with the goal of modestly growing the GDP by 3.6%. It also sets an ambitious target of collecting Rs. 13 trillion in taxes.
After the Eidul Azha vacations, the budget debate resumed in the NA today, with a vote scheduled for June 24. Ayub fiercely criticised the budget to start the discussion.