Ahead of further negotiations on a fresh International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout, the National Assembly approved the government’s tax-heavy finance bill for the upcoming fiscal year on Friday. The goal of this effort is to prevent a debt default for the economy, which is expanding at the slowest rate in South Asia.
Two weeks ago, the government unveiled the heavily taxed budget, which drew harsh condemnation from coalition allies PPP and opposition parties, particularly the PTI.
The finance bill was introduced in the NA by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and supported by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The budget has been rejected by opposition parties, who are primarily lawmakers supported by the incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan, on the grounds that it will significantly increase inflation.