The annual budget session of the National Assembly has been scheduled to commence on June 8 at 5pm.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will present the budget, outlining the government’s financial plans and allocations across various sectors.
Following the budget presentation, debates on the proposed budget are set to kick off from June 10. Members of the National Assembly will engage in detailed discussions, analysing the budgetary proposals and their potential impact on the nation’s economy and welfare. The approval of the budget is expected to be sought in the last week of June, following the conclusion of Eidul Azha.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan government is considering making cigarettes more expensive in budget 2025.
According to details, the National Institute of Health (NIH) has started receiving recommendations from the stakeholders regarding the increase in cigarette rates.
Sources further revealed that NGOs have submitted recommendations to increase 26.6% increase in the Federal Excise Duty (FED) on tobacco.
The Tobacco Control Cell has also finalised its recommendations for making cigarettes more expensive in budget 2025, sources say. The Ministry of Health will finalize these recommendationsand forward them to the Ministry of Finance this week, sources state.
There is a possibility of a 15% to 19% increase in FED on tobacco in the budget 2025, sources knowing the matter said.
Currently, the Pakistan government is levying a FED of Rs120 per cigarette pack, while local industry cigarettes are being sold at 90 rupees per pack.
Multinational cigarette manufacturers paid Rs173 billion in taxes last year and local cigarette manufacturers evaded 240 billion rupees in taxes lat year.
