ISLAMABAD – Brace yourselves: the Budget 2025-26 is set to be unveiled tonight, and it’s bursting with surprises that could shake the financial foundations of the country. Insiders from the Ministry of Finance hint at a series of dramatic fiscal measures that have been kept tightly under wraps — until now.
While the core budget exercise has been completed, the final seal of approval from the federal cabinet is still pending, adding suspense to the already highly anticipated budget announcement. What’s cooking behind those closed doors? According to top-level sources, a storm of budget surprises is about to sweep through parliament.
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, is preparing for his second showdown in the National Assembly as he prepares to unveil the Finance Bill 2025 and the full budget document — a financial blueprint that could define Pakistan’s economic trajectory.
The budget outlay is expected to clock in at a staggering Rs17.6 trillion, setting a new benchmark. But what’s generating real buzz is the aggressive tax agenda designed to plug a massive revenue shortfall. The government has set an eye-watering tax revenue target of Rs14,130 billion, packed with surprises in the form of direct taxes, sales taxes, excise duties, and Customs levies. Expect fireworks over the proposed Rs1,311 billion petroleum levy — another one of the budget’s bold surprises.
Gross federal revenues are projected at Rs19.4 trillion, while non-tax revenues are estimated at Rs4,000 billion, and a provincial surplus of Rs1,200 billion adds to the mix. But it’s the budget’s surprises in fiscal reforms, inflationary cushions, and development incentives that are generating feverish speculation among economists and citizens alike.
The post-budget schedule has been released, with the general debate kicking off on June 13. Mark your calendars — June 26 is set for the final approval of the Finance Bill 2025. The drama will unfold under the watch of Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, with plenty of room for fireworks, clashes, and of course — more budget surprises.
Stay tuned — the Budget 2025-26 isn’t just a document, it’s a political spectacle loaded with high-stakes decisions and jaw-dropping surprises.