Acting President Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Azhar Baloch urged the federal government to introduce more effective and long-term measures in the Federal Budget 2026-27 to promote industry, trade, exports and investment.
In a statement, he said the government had attempted to maintain fiscal discipline and increase revenue collection amid challenging economic conditions, but the business community expected stronger incentives for economic growth and private-sector development.
Baloch said the MCCI had submitted budget proposals to the government after consultations with various sectors, stressing that the concerns of traders and industrialists should be fully considered while finalizing the budget. He emphasized the need to reduce the cost of doing business, ensure stability in energy tariffs and create a more conducive environment for industry. Sustainable economic growth, he said, depends on policy continuity, investor confidence and a business-friendly climate. The acting president also called for a simpler, more transparent and uniform tax system, arguing that expanding the tax net should not place an additional burden solely on existing taxpayers. Instead, undocumented sectors of the economy should be brought into the tax framework. Baloch highlighted the importance of boosting exports, increasing industrial production, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and creating investment opportunities to strengthen the national economy.