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Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presented the FY2026-27 budget in the National Assembly (NA) on Friday, during a session that began two hours late and was marred by loud protests from the opposition.
Aurangzeb prefaced the numbers with a note of thanks to leaders of the coalition parties supporting the federal government, as well as a rumination on Pakistan’s improved standing in the world, which he described as a culmination of events that started from last year’s Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos and which peaked with Pakistan brokering a ceasefire between Iran and the US amidst a dangerous regional escalation.
The budget presented for fiscal year 2026-27 has an outlay of Rs18.8 trillion, of which Rs8,045bn will be set aside for markup payments, Aurangzeb explained as he introduced the proposals.
The finance minister said the economy was expected to grow four per cent in FY2026-27 and average inflation was expected to be recorded at 8.2pc.
