LAHORE: The Huqooq-i-Khalq Party (HKP) has rejected the federal budget calling it an “imperialist budget” crafted under the dictates of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The party asserted that the budget primarily benefitted local and foreign capitalists and corporations at the expense of the common Pakistani populace.

According to the HKP, the budget will exacerbate inequality, inflation, and unemployment across Pakistan while further swelling the profits of the capitalist classes and global financial institutions.

The party highlighted several measures proposed in the budget that it claims were designed to boost the earnings of the wealthy. Notably, the super tax levied on corporations has been reduced.

It also pointed out the 16pc increase in the defence spending within the budget, while the largest allocation had been earmarked for the repayment of foreign loans. It argued that this prioritisation came at a direct cost to the welfare of citizens.

The party also slammed the ‘paltry’ 10pc increase in workers’ salaries, arguing that the equal increment given to Grade-22 bureaucrats and Grade-1 labourers would widen the existing pay gap. It said the 7pc increase in pensions was “extremely low” given the prevailing inflation in the country. The HKP has demanded a minimum wage of Rs70,000 per month and at least a 30pc increase in pensions. The party criticised the budget for not imposing agricultural tax on feudal landlords and the government’s commitment to continuing agricultural policies that, it claimed, caused billions of rupees in losses to farmers.

The imposition of an 18pc sales tax on the import of solar panels would hinder the production of renewable energy and negatively impact efforts to clean up the country’s environment, the HKP warned.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2025