Lahore: The Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore Ziauddin Ansari Advocate has expressed his reaction to the Federal Budget 2026, stating that the upcoming fiscal budget must provide genuine and effective relief to the public; otherwise, it will further intensify inflationary pressures and deepen the hardships of the common man.He expressed these views while speaking to media representatives during various events regarding the budget for the fiscal year 2026.Ziauddin Ansari Advocate said that the budget being prepared under the conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is not pro-people but rather anti-people in nature. He added that the imposition of new taxes and the recent sharp increase in petroleum product prices have pushed essential commodities and basic necessities far beyond the reach of the common citizen.He further stated that the government should ensure the following measures in the upcoming budget:Reduce petrol price to PKR 250 per litre.Substantially increase salaries and pensions of government employees.Significantly enhance the budget allocations for health and education sectors.Introduce effective policy measures to strengthen and stabilize the business and real estate sectorsThe Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore further said that any additional increase in electricity and gas tariffs under the pretext of circular debt reduction would be an anti-people step, severely affecting both domestic and commercial consumers and disturbing their monthly household budgets.He warned that rising production costs are leading to the closure of industrial units, which will further increase unemployment and reduce the purchasing power of the masses.He urged the government to ensure that the upcoming budget is not merely an exercise in figures, but a practical, comprehensive, and people-friendly financial plan aimed at providing immediate relief to the public.
