Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders have strongly rejected the federal budget 2026-27, calling it anti-poor, anti-people and designed to benefit the elite rather than the common man.
PTI leader Sheikh Waqas Akram said the budget was “anti-poor and pro-aristocratic,” claiming that relief had been provided to the rich while the burden had been shifted to ordinary citizens. He alleged that the government changed figures in Budget 2026-27 and avoided real economic reforms.
According to Waqas Akram, the budget is based on harassing taxpayers instead of broadening reforms and fixing structural issues in the economy.
Elite protection plan
Sheikh Waqas Akram said Budget 2026-27 was an exercise in protecting the elite, adding that PTI rejected it. He said the poor had been given only modest relief, while benefits had been extended to the privileged class.
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He added that the government had imposed every possible tax on the people during the last four budgets, calling the federal budget a complete fraud and anti-people. Akram said rising debt and the absence of real relief were proof of the government’s failure.
Gohar criticises govt
Talking to the media after the budget session at Parliament House, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar said the chief minister had the right to come to Parliament House. He said the PTI was only demanding its constitutional right and would continue its struggle both inside and outside the House.
Gohar also said the party had refused to take the PTI founder to hospital and would not meet him “in the dark of night.”
“No such meeting has taken place and no such meeting will take place,” he said.
‘Govt failed to meet economic targets’
Barrister Gohar also rejected the budget, calling it anti-people. He said the government had failed to achieve economic targets and claimed that all official economic figures were incorrect.
According to him, the government could not increase revenue, failed to reduce expenditures and continued borrowing on top of existing loans. He also criticized the government for failing to introduce reforms in the agriculture and real estate sectors.
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Gohar said the federal government had nothing of its own and was depending on the provinces. He added that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa budget would be finalized by the day after tomorrow.
Ali Zafar says people got no relief
PTI’s parliamentary leader in the Senate, Barrister Ali Zafar, told SAMAA that the people had received no relief in the budget. He said the government did not explain how it planned to broaden the tax base.
Zafar described the budget as “a bomb for the poor people,” saying it lacked strategy.
He added that there was no plan for agriculture in the budget and that the youth had also been ignored.
