KARACHI
\nIsmail Suttar, founder chairman Salt Manufacturers Association Pakistan(SMAP) has expressed serious reservations over the federal budget for 2026-27, arguing that the government has failed to introduce measures capable of delivering meaningful growth in exports at a time when the country urgently needs foreign exchange earnings.
\nIn a statement, Mr. Suttar said the budget lacked a coherent roadmap for expanding Pakistan\u2019s export base and addressing challenges confronting manufacturers. He noted that despite repeated assurances of support for the productive sectors, exporters had received little beyond marginal tax adjustments.
\nAccording to him, one of the biggest disappointments was the government\u2019s decision not to restore the Final Tax Regime (FTR) for exporters. He said the export sector had sought a straightforward tax framework that would minimize compliance costs and reduce interaction with tax authorities.
\n\u201cReducing the withholding tax rate while keeping exporters within the normal tax regime does not solve the problem,\u201d he observed. \u201cBusinesses need predictability and simplicity, not additional paperwork and procedural complications.\u201d
\nIsmail Suttar warned that Pakistan\u2019s regional competitors were aggressively facilitating exporters through tax incentives, lower production costs and simplified regulations, whereas the latest budget had offered no comparable relief.
\nHe maintained that export growth could not be achieved through taxation measures alone and criticized the absence of proposals aimed at reducing industrial energy costs. High electricity and gas tariffs, he said, continue to erode the competitiveness of Pakistani products in international markets.
\n\u201cThe budget does not provide a clear mechanism for lowering power and gas costs for industry, nor does it explain how the burden of circular debt will be addressed without further affecting productive sectors,\u201d he said.
\nWhile welcoming the reduction in super tax rates for certain companies, Mr. Suttar described the measure as limited relief that would have little impact on export performance unless accompanied by broader structural reforms.
\nHe stressed that industrial units across the country were operating below their potential because of rising production expenses and policy uncertainty. Without targeted incentives for exporters and manufacturers, he cautioned, Pakistan would struggle to achieve sustainable economic growth.
\nIsmail Suttar said the government should revisit its export policy framework and engage with industry representatives to formulate measures that encourage investment, increase industrial output and strengthen the country\u2019s position in global markets.
\n\u201cExports must remain at the center of economic policymaking. Without expanding export earnings, it will be difficult to overcome recurring external account pressures and place the economy on a stable footing,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
KARACHI Ismail Suttar, founder chairman Salt Manufacturers Association Pakistan(SMAP) has expressed serious reservations over the federal budget for 2026-27, arguing that the government has failed to introduce measures capable of delivering meaningful growth in exports at a time when the country urgently needs foreign exchange earnings. In a statement, Mr. Suttar said the budget lacked […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-551176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-business"],"yoast_head":"\n