Karachi, Altaf Shakoor, Chairman of the Pasban Democratic Party (PDP), strongly criticized the federal budget, claiming it primarily serves the interests of lenders at the expense of the nation’s economic sovereignty and the welfare of its citizens.

According to Pasban Democratic Party, Shakoor articulated deep concerns about the budget’s alignment with the interests of international lenders rather than the Pakistani populace. He described the budget as a manifestation of Pakistan’s economic enslavement, emphasizing that it is crafted under the influence of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and is detrimental to the nation’s autonomy. Shakoor highlighted the budget’s focus on maintaining the elite class’s privileges through substantial subsidies to economically burdensome enterprises like Karachi Electric, while neglecting essential subsidies for food staples such as wheat.

Shakoor also pointed out that a significant portion of the budget is allocated to servicing debts, with the government needing to borrow an additional Rs 9000 billion to manage the deficit, further exacerbating the country’s debt situation. He expressed particular concern for government workers who might see some benefits from the budget, contrasting their situation with the dire economic realities facing private sector workers, farmers, and laborers who are likely to suffer from increased inflation and deepening poverty.

Condemning the budget’s failure to promote job creation, increase food production, or support local industries, Shakoor called for a complete overhaul of the budget to prioritize national interests over those of external creditors. The PDP, reflecting the sentiment of many citizens, has outright rejected the budget and is advocating for a fundamental restructuring to ensure it benefits the Pakistani people first and foremost.