• Finance minister hints at simplified tax returns for salaried class
• Claims every possible support to be made available for armed forces
• Privatisation drive to be ‘accelerated’ in next fiscal year; PIA, three Discos to be privatised by year end
• Flags population growth, climate change as existential threats

ISLAMABAD: Promising simplified tax returns for the salaried class, Finance Minister Muhammad Aura­ng­zeb on Monday pledged that the up­co­ming federal budget would int­ro­duce “bold measures” to steer the national economy in a strategic direction and make available whatever support is required by the armed forces.

Talking to journalists after an event organised by the Pakistan Banks Association and Karandaaz Pakistan, the finance minister said that every possible support would be provided to the armed forces, stressing that it was a national need in light of recent cross-border aggression, not just a military requirement.

Responding to a question, he said the IMF mission and its regional dir­e­ctor, Jihad Azour, and executive dir­ector, Bahador Bijani, had........

© Dawn Business