Benazir Income Support Programme

The Pakistani budget provides tax relief for high-income salaried employees earning over Rs200,000 monthly but overlooks the majority of households earning less than Rs100,000. The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) allocates Rs838 billion, increasing quarterly payouts to Rs18,000 for 10 million low-income families, while power sector subsidies and education/health allocations remain insufficient for broader economic needs.

PTI rejects PM Shehbaz Sharif's claims about the legitimacy of the 2018 elections and calls for a judicially supervised audit of both 2018 and 2024 elections, alleging election tampering via Form-47. The party also accuses the government of financial irregularities in the Benazir Income Support Programme, including Rs25 billion disbursed through suspicious channels.

The government announced FY26-27 budget measures including 7% salary and pension increases, a 10% federal minimum wage hike, expanded social welfare programs, and tax reductions for multiple income brackets. Relief includes lower tax rates for high earners, abolition of certain surcharges, and sector-specific concessions for real estate, IT, and exports.

BISP Chairperson Rubina Khalid urged an apology for remarks that hurt beneficiaries' sentiments, specifically referencing Rana Sanaullah's claims that the program's data is inaccurate and corrupt, turning people into beggars. Khalid defended BISP, stating it prevents people from becoming beggars and emphasized political support from President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.