ISLAMABAD — Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday laid out the reasons behind his party’s decision to support the federal budget, pointing to key amendments that he said were made in response to PPP’s concerns.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly ahead of the budget’s passage, Bilawal acknowledged that his party had initially raised serious objections, particularly over what it saw as unfair treatment of Sindh. But he said that significant changes had since been made, allowing the PPP to endorse the budget “in the interest of the people.”
“We had our reservations — and we made them known,” Bilawal said. “But after negotiations and serious engagement, several of our proposals were accepted. That’s why we are supporting this budget.”
One of the most notable achievements, according to Bilawal, was a 20% increase in funding for the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), a flagship social safety net originally launched by his late mother, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. He praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for continuing to strengthen the program, in contrast to the PTI government, which he accused of trying to undermine BISP in every budget.
The PPP chairman also highlighted the government’s decision to raise the annual income tax exemption threshold from Rs600,000 to Rs1.2 million — a move that, he said, would provide meaningful relief to salaried individuals, particularly amid rising inflation.
Another key win for the PPP was a reduction in the sales tax on solar panels, slashed from 18% to 10% after the party pushed back against what it viewed as a regressive step. “This is a time when we should be encouraging clean and renewable energy, not taxing it into oblivion,” Bilawal said.
He also welcomed a major rollback in the Federal Board of Revenue’s powers to arrest individuals in tax cases. Under the revised policy, arrests will now only be allowed in proven cases of fraud — and even then, the offences will be bailable. “This is a victory for fairness and for rule of law,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Bilawal chaired a meeting of the PPP parliamentary party where members briefed him on the changes secured through negotiations. According to a party statement, lawmakers informed Bilawal that the budget now includes a 10% increase in government salaries and a 7% hike in pensions — both based on PPP’s recommendations.
Another demand that was accepted, the party noted, was full income tax exemption for individuals earning up to Rs100,000 per month. In addition, the PPP said it succeeded in getting previously withdrawn budgetary allocations for universities in Sindh reinstated.
For a party that had only days earlier threatened to boycott the budget altogether, the turnaround is striking. But Bilawal emphasized that the changes made were substantial and worth supporting.
“This is not about politics,” he said. “It’s about ensuring that the voices of ordinary Pakistanis — especially the most vulnerable — are heard and reflected in the national budget.”
