A budget to please some, ignore others
June 12, 2021
LAHORE: The federal budget for 2021-22 is full of promises based on ambitious increase in tax revenue. Government employees’ salaries have been increased by 10 percent, while minimum wage payable by the private sector increased by 13 percent.
Some budget measures have pleased those associated with trade and industry, but as far as the common man is concerned it contains nothing that could assure that there would be decline in prices.
In fact, the finance minister felt proud that wheat rates have increased globally by 54 percent and by only 29 percent in Pakistan. He conveniently ignored the fact that the increase in wheat rates was from last years’ high base, and if we compare the rates with a year earlier the increase is very high.