Islamabad, April 2025 – In a major development ahead of the upcoming federal budget, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has announced that the government is actively working to introduce relief measures for the salaried class. The initiative comes as part of Pakistan’s broader economic agenda, aligning with International Monetary Fund (IMF) protocols while addressing public concerns.

Relief Program Designed for Salaried Individuals

Speaking to the media, the Finance Minister confirmed that a comprehensive program targeting the salaried class has been developed and is set to be presented to the IMF for approval. This program aims to ease the financial burden on individuals earning fixed monthly incomes, a group significantly impacted by inflation and rising living costs.

“We have prepared a program to provide relief to the salaried class in the next budget. The details of this relief will be shared with the IMF,” said Aurangzeb.

IMF Executive Board Expected to Approve Agreement in May

Minister Aurangzeb expressed confidence that the IMF Executive Board will approve Pakistan’s staff-level agreement by May. He noted that all IMF targets have been met, albeit with slight delays in certain areas, and emphasized the government’s dedication to maintaining financial discipline.

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Public and Private Sector Proposals Shape the Budget

The government has received 98% of budget proposals from both public and private sectors. Aurangzeb emphasized that stakeholders will be informed about accepted and rejected proposals prior to the budget presentation. This collaborative approach aims to increase transparency and ensure policy alignment across sectors.

Budget Finalization Timeline Set for July 1, 2025

The final federal budget will be locked in by July 1, 2025, with no changes permitted thereafter. This early finalization is intended to streamline the implementation process and provide stakeholders with a stable fiscal roadmap.

Trader Tax Collection & Simplified Taxation Initiatives

The Finance Minister also touched on improvements in tax collection from the trading community. He reassured that new trader-focused schemes should not be linked solely to tax enforcement. Furthermore, the Tax Policy Department will officially come under the Ministry of Finance within this calendar year, and a simplified tax return form is currently in development to make self-filing easier for individual taxpayers.