Senators urge relief for people

Senators on Wednesday termed the federal budget for fiscal year 2025-26 a critical step towards economic stabilisation, national resilience, public relief, and called for further measures to support low-income groups, promote clean energy, and address regional disparities.

While participating in the general discussion on Budget 2025-26, Senator Shahzaib Durrani lauded the federal budget for fiscal year 2025-26, termed it as a reflection of the government's commitment to stabilizing the economy, providing relief to citizens, and strengthening the nation's independence.

Senator Danesh Kumar expressed concern over Pakistan's growing debt burden, added that 50 percent of the national budget is being consumed by interest payments, primarily to service existing loans through further borrowing.

"The IMF loans are not grants; we are borrowing to repay previous loans, which is not a sustainable solution," he added.

Senator Pervaiz Rashid termed the federal budget for fiscal year 2025-26 balanced and pragmatic, adding that the budget offered relief to the common man and was well-received by financial markets.

Senator Palwasha Muhammad Zia Khan, emphasized the need to retain the Roosevelt Hotel as a national asset, urged the government to protect it from privatization.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the 10 per cent increase in government employees' salaries and a seven per cent rise in pensions, she termed the increment insufficient in the face of ongoing economic hardships and called for a review of the decision to provide greater relief to the public sector workforce and retirees.

She said that unchecked tree-cutting is contributing to rising temperatures and environmental degradation.

Senator Palwasha also opposed the imposition of an 18 percent tax on solar panels, stating that such measures could hinder Pakistan's transition to clean energy. "The country is moving swiftly towards solar energy, and this taxation will discourage that shift," she added.