Lawmakers in the National Assembly on Friday lauded Pakistan’s diplomatic success, fiscal management efforts, and ongoing governance reforms, with members from both treasury and opposition benches emphasizing the need for continued institutional stability and sustained economic improvement.
Taking part in the discussion, MQM-P MNA Arshad Abdullah Vohra praised Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts, particularly its role in facilitating peace efforts between the United States and Iran.
He paid tribute to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, saying his leadership, vision, and strategic approach had helped strengthen Pakistan’s international diplomatic standing. He also appreciated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, saying his diplomatic engagement and global outreach had helped effectively project Pakistan’s case on the international stage.
The MQM lawmaker said the Iran-US Memorandum of Understanding showed that dialogue remains the only viable path to resolving conflicts, adding that Pakistan had played a constructive role in bridging differences.
He said such diplomatic gains should be translated into internal economic stability and relief for citizens.
Regarding the federal budget, he said the announced 7 percent salary increase for government employees was limited in impact amid inflationary pressures, arguing that it should have been closer to 10 percent to provide meaningful relief.
He added that a significant portion of the budget was consumed by debt servicing, including interest payments on loans, leaving limited fiscal space for development spending. This imbalance, he warned, was affecting public investment and slowing national development.
He acknowledged an increase in the development budget but said implementation and planning capacity needed strengthening.
Highlighting broader economic concerns, he said agriculture contributed significantly to GDP but remained largely outside the tax net, proposing that large landholders be brought into the tax system through agricultural taxation reforms.
Opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai said political differences should not override national interests, stressing that Parliament, the armed forces, and democratic institutions all belong to the country and must be respected collectively.
He added that Pakistan’s progress depended on institutional harmony and mutual respect, saying elected representatives serve millions of citizens, and their voices should not be restricted inside the House.
Senior lawmaker from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Nawaz Khan appreciated the Speaker for allowing full participation in the budget debate.
He said the finance minister had presented the budget as “pro-people,” but in his view, citizens had received no real relief over the past several budgets. Instead, he said inflation had continued to rise, increasing financial pressure on ordinary citizens.
He argued that rising prices of electricity, gas, and essential commodities had made life increasingly difficult for low-income groups.
PPP leader Dr Nafisa Shah appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement in the US-Iran process, saying it promoted dialogue and avoided conflict. She also highlighted Pakistan’s relations with China and Gulf states, and stressed the need for structural economic reforms, export growth, and reduced dependence on IMF programmes.
She said Pakistan’s economic direction must prioritize production, stability, and long-term growth.
Parliamentary Secretary for Maritime Affairs Dr Darshan Punshi on Friday said Pakistan had achieved a significant diplomatic success in facilitating a peace agreement between the United States and Iran.
He said the development had enhanced Pakistan’s international standing and contributed to regional peace.
He congratulated the country’s leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and the people of Pakistan.
Dr Punshi said Pakistan’s global image and passport had gained greater respect due to its diplomatic efforts, adding that the country was now being viewed as a responsible state committed to peace.
MQM MNA Sanjay Perwani said minority communities were still not receiving adequate attention in the federal budget, claiming that no specific allocations had been made for churches, temples, gurdwaras, or other places of worship.
Ali Mazari also supported the establishment of industrial zones in underdeveloped areas and endorsed fixed tax regimes for small businesses, saying such measures would help formalise the economy and improve revenue collection.
The lawmaker praised recent security and development initiatives in southern Punjab, saying targeted operations and community engagement had significantly reduced crime in previously troubled areas.
He added that improved governance and dialogue-based approaches had helped restore peace and stability in the region.