Rawalpindi traders appreciate incentives announced in federal budget

RAWALPINDI, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jun, 2026) President Anjuman Tajran Rawalpindi Sharjeel Mir has termed the federal budget 2026-27 balanced, saying that it did not fully meet expectations but reflected a positive shift towards engaging the trader community.

Talking to APP, he said that the trader community was satisfied that the government, for the first time, took them on board while formulating budget proposals. He added that the fixed tax policy had been developed after consultation with traders, which would help expand the tax net.

He appreciated the 7% increase in salaries of government employees and pensions, and 10% in minimum wage, adding that the 7% raise for the salaried class, though not significant, would still provide some relief.

He also lauded the policy that abolished the Federal Excise Duty (FED) on medicines used for the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases. He further highlighted that continued consultation with the trader community and their representation at the policy making level would lead to improved economic policies benefiting both traders and the general public.

Responding to a question, he said that if tax policies for small traders were made more flexible, it would encourage a larger number of traders to register with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

Meanwhile, trader leader from Rawalpindi Saddar, Nasir Abbasi, also appreciated the budget and said that it was a positive step in difficult economic circumstances. He noted that the government had tried to strike a balance between relief measures and revenue generation.

He further highlighted that the inclusion of traders in the consultative process was encouraging and would help build trust between the government and the trader community.

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He underscored that consistency in policies and reduction in taxation complexities would further strengthen business confidence.

Nasir Abbasi stressed that timely implementation of announced measures was crucial and said that the authorities should ensure that relief provided in the budget reached the grassroots level.

In the IT sector, trader Aamir Saeed also welcomed the budget and said that it contained encouraging signals for technology-driven sectors. He noted that the government’s approach towards easing certain taxes and promoting digitalisation could support growth in the IT and computer technology sectors.

He further highlighted that Pakistan’s IT sector had strong potential for exports and job creation and called for more incentives, particularly in software development and IT-enabled services.

Similarly, IT solutions provider and trader Atif Malik appreciated the budget measures and said that the government appeared to be moving in the right direction.

He noted that the relief in certain taxes and focus on economic stability would help traders plan ahead.

He further highlighted that simplified tax procedures and better access to financing for technology firms were essential, adding that supportive policies could significantly enhance the contribution of IT-related traders to the national economy.

The traders collectively emphasised that continuity in economic policies, ease of doing business and broader consultation with stakeholders were essential to ensure sustainable economic growth.