Islamabad, June 11, 2025: In a sharply worded statement following the unveiling of Pakistan’s federal budget for 2025, Sheikh Wajid Mahmood, Executive Vice President and Country Head Sales & Marketing at Nayatel Pakistan, voiced strong disappointment over what he called a continued disregard for the salaried class, the most compliant and taxed segment of the population.
Terming the newly announced budget “another lollipop for the salaried class,” Mahmood criticized the lack of meaningful tax relief, persistent inflation, and stagnant wages that continue to squeeze middle-income earners across the country.
“Once again, the salaried class, the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, has been handed nothing but a lollipop in the name of ‘relief’,” he stated in a post that resonated across professional networks.
Highlighting the growing disparity, Mahmood pointed to skyrocketing costs of living, including rent, education, fuel, and utility bills, that continue to outpace income levels, all while tax deductions from salaried employees remain consistent and automatic.
“We’re the most visible, most compliant, and the easiest to deduct from, yet somehow always the last to be considered. While others evade, we pay. While others protest, we cope,” he added, questioning how long this burden can be sustained.
Mahmood’s remarks reflect broader public sentiment among professionals who feel overlooked by fiscal policies that often favor elite or undocumented sectors of the economy. His statement ends on a somber note:
“This isn’t relief. It’s a reminder that we are on our own.”
