Islamabad: The National Assembly resumed discussions on the proposed budget for the next fiscal year, with lawmakers emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that supports social welfare and economic development.

During the session, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari highlighted the importance of a progressive, people-centric budget, advocating for increased investment in human capital. She supported enhanced health and education allocations and welcomed a 21% increase in funding for the Benazir Income Support Program, suggesting its expansion to include female literacy and health insurance.

Qamar ul Islam expressed optimism that the 2025-26 budget would lay a foundation for economic growth. Amir Dogar proposed raising the minimum wage to fifty thousand rupees, aiming to improve the livelihoods of low-income earners.

Health Minister Mustafa Kamal called for a national policy to address population growth, while Saad Waseem praised the government for presenting a balanced budget amidst challenging economic conditions.

Various lawmakers proposed measures to strengthen key sectors. Muhammad Atif emphasized enhancing tax revenue through economic strengthening, and Shagufta Jumani advocated for building water reservoirs to tackle water shortages. Rana Muhammad Hayat suggested a 50% reduction in agriculture inputs to boost exports.

Moulana Fazl-ur-Rahman underscored the significance of peace and security for economic development and urged adherence to Islamic teachings in lawmaking. He also criticized Israeli actions in Palestine and called for solidarity with Palestinians and Iranians.

Amjad Ali Khan stressed the importance of uplifting agriculture and industry to fortify the economy, and Naz Baloch highlighted the need to address power outages in Karachi.

Tahira Aurangzeb commended the government for delivering a commendable budget, noting the significance of salary and pension increases for government employees. Dawar Khan Kundi advocated for strengthening agriculture, industry, and banking to achieve independence from the IMF.

Saba Sadiq recognized the reduction in import duty on solar panels, aligning with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar’s announcement, and praised government efforts to promote the construction sector.