LAHORE, May 19: Punjab Finance, Planning and Development Minister Tanvir Ashraf Kaira has said that the new budget will be people-friendly with special incentives for uplift of agriculture and industrial sectors.

In a statement issued after presiding over a departmental meeting held here on Monday, the minister said the government would not only rationalise the provincial taxes but also announce a comprehensive plan to provide relief to the poor and the salaries classes.

The government would also make efforts to promote the tax culture to increase the number of taxpayers for increase in revenue.

He said the government was trying to cut the non-development budget to ensure that uplift budget was not affected. The poor were the focus of the government policies and would be provided with relief in the budget. —Reporter

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...