RAWALPINDI: Traders and citizens have said they found no significant relief for the public in the federal budget for fiscal year 2026-27, presented by Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb on Friday, while the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) termed it a mixed budget, containing both positive measures and areas requiring further attention.

Rawalpindi Traders Association President Shahid Ghafoor Paracha described the federal budget as “jugglery of words,” saying there was no relief for the common man and small traders.

He said the government had failed to present any plan to control inflation, adding that taxes would further increase prices. He stated that the purchasing power of people would decline further, utility bills would rise in the coming days, and hard times for the common man would intensify.

Rawalpindi Anjuman Tajran President Sharjeel Mir also said there was no relief for the common man and small traders. He noted that the budget allocation for health and education was low, forcing people to spend more in the private sector to access these services.

He further said there was no plan to adopt austerity measures in government departments or to end protocol expenditures for government officials and members of parliament from both the ruling and opposition sides, which, he said, adds extra burden on the national exchequer.

“One per cent tax on turnover for small traders under the new scheme will increase prices of essential items. Prices of pulses, vegetable oil, sugar and wheat flour will rise further in the coming days as there is no relief for the public in the fiscal budget,” said Saleem Pervaiz, Chairman of the Rawalpindi Karyana Association.

Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) termed the Federal Budget 2026-27 a mixed budget, containing both positive measures and areas requiring further attention.

RCCI President Usman Shaukat said the reduction in taxes for the salaried class and the decrease in super tax were welcome steps. He also appreciated tax relief for the IT sector, noting its vital role in promoting exports and employment.

He welcomed the allocation of Rs88 billion under the Export Finance Scheme, calling it a positive initiative. However, he said the allocation should be further enhanced if the government aims to significantly increase exports. He also appreciated the proposal to abolish duties on life-saving medicines, calling it a pro-public measure.

He stated that while the budget included some encouraging measures, it lacked a comprehensive strategy for industrial growth and revival. He added that no significant initiative had been announced to improve the ease of doing business, which remains a key concern for the business community.

He welcomed the Fixed Tax Scheme but said the mechanism for its implementation had not yet been clarified. He stressed that sustainable industrial growth is directly linked to increased exports and urged the government to prioritise export-led economic policies.

RCCI former president Sohail Altaf termed the abolition of the super tax and reduction in withholding tax as positive developments.

However, he expressed concern that no meaningful relief had been provided to small businesses. He also highlighted the importance of bringing new taxpayers into the tax net to broaden the revenue base.

The RCCI leadership observed that there was still a lack of clarity regarding sales tax measures. Overall, they described the budget as balanced, with neither major cause for celebration nor serious concern. However, they noted that it does not provide a clear roadmap for reducing inflation.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2026