No plan to increase salaries, pensions in upcoming budget: FinMin

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb confirmed on Monday that there is currently no proposal under consideration to increase the salaries or pensions of federal government employees in the upcoming budget.

In a written response to the National Assembly, Aurangzeb stated that there are also no plans to revise employee allowances or pay scales.

However, he noted that the government is reviewing the ceiling and limits for hiring and housing allowances.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce presented details of Pakistan’s trade deficit over the past five years. Official documents revealed that the country recorded a trade deficit of $154 billion between 2019 and 2024.

Read: Solar panel rates drop after net metering cut in Pakistan

During this period, exports stood at $136 billion, while imports totaled $291 billion. The trade deficit peaked at $48.35 billion in 2022 before declining to $24.11 billion in 2024.

The fiscal year 2025 saw a 60% surge in imports of solar panels, transformers, and power transmission equipment, with total imports in this category reaching $319 million.

Industrial machinery imports increased by 20%, textile machinery by 40%, and auto parts by 58%.