Rs170 billion mini-budget sails through National Assembly | The Express Tribune
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ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Monday passed the Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2023 dubbed as 'mini-budget' to impose new taxes worth Rs170 billion in a bid to revive the stalled International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout programme. Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar introduced the bill in the House last week followed by formal debate that started after Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar moved a motion on February 17. In his concluding speech, the finance minister said that this bill proposes imposing new taxes of Rs170 billion to minimise the fiscal deficit. He said that his economic team had a hectic routine during the last ten days holding talks with the IMF to revive the programme, during which it agreed to take some tough decisions for streamlining the deteriorating condition of the economy. Also read: Rs170b mini-budget to spur inflation He said the new revenue measures would not affect the poor segments of society. In order to help the poor cope with...