CM aide says federal budget2026-27 lacks coalition partner support

PESHAWAR
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Adviser Muzzammil Aslam on Tuesday said the federal budget for 2026-27 had failed to secure backing from the government’s own coalition partners, the International Monetary Fund, opposition parties, and the PTI.
In a statement, Aslam questioned who was satisfied with the budget, arguing that widespread rejection pointed to its failure. He cited media reports indicating that the IMF had rejected relief measures announced in the budget, while opposition parties and the PTI had also turned it down.
The adviser added that the federal government’s request for grants from the provinces had not been endorsed by the KP government. He said KP’s participation in budget consultations was conditional on approval and consultation with PTI founder Imran Khan.
In a separate statement, Aslam said KP offered Pakistan’s lowest tax rate on credit card and online payments at 6pc, compared with 8pc in Punjab, which had recently increased its rate.
He further stated that local taxes, including vehicle registration and property transfer taxes, were also the lowest in KP.