ISLAMABAD: The government on Friday assured the PTI that it would discuss with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) the extension of tax exemptions for the merged districts of the erstwhile Fata and Pata regions, according to Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah.

Mr Sanaullah made the remarks after key leaders from the government and the PTI met at Parliament House.

“The finance minister has promised [the opposition] that he will seek to extend these exemptions after speaking with the IMF and, God willing, will make efforts for it,” Mr Sanaullah told reporters after the meeting.

The meeting was held in the chamber of Finance Minister Muhammad Aura­ngzeb. Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam also attended from the government’s side, while Asad Qaiser, Junaid Akbar and PTI MNAs from the erstwhile Fata represented the opposition.

Mr Sanaullah said the opposition had raised concerns with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the National Assembly earlier in the day over the expiry of tax exemptions for the erstwhile Fata and Pata regions on June 30.

He said the premier subsequently directed him, Mr Aurangzeb and Mr Muqam to meet the opposition. The PML-N leader noted that Mr Muqam had already been making efforts on the matter.

He expressed the hope that the tax waivers would be extended after the IMF was taken into confidence.

The erstwhile Fata and Pata, which were merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018, are exempt from income tax on profits and gains from existing businesses operated by individuals.

There are also other concessions, including sales tax exemptions for retailers.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2026