Islamabad, May 9, 2025: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed that the federal government’s top priority in the upcoming 2025–26 budget is to provide meaningful economic relief to the common man, especially the poor and middle-income groups.
Chairing a high-level meeting on budget preparations, the premier directed that the budget be crafted to drive sustainable, export-led economic growth, while also promoting industrial development and increasing national production.
“The budget must place strong emphasis on job creation, agricultural uplift, IT sector advancement, and support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and housing,” said the prime minister.
He underlined the importance of close collaboration between the public and private sectors, calling it essential for achieving national development and economic prosperity. The premier also highlighted public-private partnerships and youth vocational training as central to the government’s economic strategy.
Shehbaz Sharif pointed to positive momentum from ongoing power sector reforms, noting that recent reductions in industrial electricity tariffs would help spur manufacturing and boost productivity. He also said the government is prioritising digitisation and automation to bring greater transparency to the public sector and to facilitate ease of business for investors.
The prime minister reaffirmed his government’s commitment to “rightsizing” — a move aimed at reducing the size and cost of the federal government — in the upcoming fiscal year.
During the meeting, officials briefed the prime minister on ongoing consultations with the private sector, which have been underway for three months, as well as engagement with stakeholders across multiple industries. It was revealed that a comprehensive five-year trade policy framework (2025–30) and an updated e-commerce 2.0 policy are nearing completion. Additionally, work is underway on a plan for tariff rationalisation.
Business leaders and economic experts participating in the session expressed confidence in the government’s policies and presented proposals for budget inclusion. The prime minister welcomed their input and instructed that viable recommendations be incorporated into the budget planning process.
The meeting was attended by senior cabinet members, including Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Jam Kamal Khan, Shaza Fatima, Sardar Awais Ahmad Leghari, and Ali Pervaiz Malik, along with Special Assistant to the PM Haroon Akhtar and other senior officials.
