THE call for a nationwide strike on July 19 by leading trade associations against tax enforcement and compliance measures introduced in the FY26 budget highlights strong resistance from the trading class to become part of the documented economy and pay their due. The call is backed by major chambers of commerce and industry, as well as other leading trade bodies. For what it’s worth, the Federa
Emboldened by a marked improvement in key economic indicators, apart from GDP growth, the country’s leadership now signals a shift from crisis management toward transformative growth. Both Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmed have recently talked about the transformation of the Pakistani economy as their next goal. While macroeconomic indica
A mother squabbled with the gatekeeper in a school in Punjab, fighting for admission for her daughter,” narrates the CEO and President of The Citizen Foundation (TCF), Zia Akhtar Abbas. TCF had just taken over a boys-only government school in the boondocks of Punjab, but the mother held her daughter’s hand firmly and argued for a seat. In Punjab, a Learning and Educational Achievement in Punjab
The Ministry of National Food Security and Research on Monday announced that the ex-mill price of sugar has been fixed at Rs165 per kilogramme, marking an increase of Rs25 from the fixed price last June. An official statement issued by the ministry said that the government and sugar industry had reached an agreement on the new ex-mill price of the commodity. “All provincial governments will
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday said that the additional powers granted to the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) had nothing to do with income tax. The expanded enforcement powers for the FBR include the authority to block high-value financial transactions by non-filers — such as vehicle and property purchases, investment in securities and mutual funds, and opening certain prestigio