FY2026-27 budget: Senate seeks increase of income tax exemption threshold, reduction in electricity tariffs

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Thursday adopted several recommendations regarding the federal budget for FY2026-27, seeking an increase in the income tax exemption threshold for low-income earners, a reduction in electricity bills and increased taxes on luxury assets.

A motion for this purpose was moved by Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue Chairperson Saleem Mandviwalla.

The standing committee finalised the recommendations earlier in the day. The report was then laid before the Senate for adoption and would now be transmitted to the National Assembly (NA), as per the Constitution.

The NA will take up the recommendations before the final vote on the budget. However, these recommendations are not binding.

The Senate’s recommendations include:

Increase in the income tax exemption threshold for low-income earners

Reduction in tax rates for salaried individuals affected by inflation

Expansion of targeted social protection programmes for vulnerable households

Reduction in general sales tax on essential food items, medicines, educational material and agricultural inputs

Avoidance of imposition of new taxes on basic necessities that disproportionately affect lower-income groups

Allocation of funds for reduction in electricity tariffs

Introduction of a transparent roadmap for reducing capacity payments and circular debt

Provision of targeted subsidies for low-consumption domestic consumers

Reduction in taxes and duties on fertilisers, seeds, pesticides and agricultural machinery

Increase in allocations for water conservation and agricultural research

Increase in federal allocations for public hospitals and primary healthcare

Enhanced funding for higher education, scholarships and vocational training programmes

Publication of all tax exemptions and concessions granted to spectific sectors or entities

Set a requirement for periodic reporting to Parliament on public debt, circular debt and major public sector expenditures

Reduction in non-development expenditure where possible

Presentation of a medium-term refuction strategy before Parliament

Simplification of tax procedures for small- and medium-sized enterprises

Provision of concessional financing and incentives for employment-generating industries

Increase in allocations for flood protection, drought mitigation and climate-resilient infrastructure

NA reconsiders the proposed taxation measures on essential commodities and salaried class, and instead broaden the tax base by eliminating preferential exemptions, enhancing tax administration, and ensuring equitable taxation of undertaxed sectors, so as to protect ordinary citizens from further inflationary pressures

More to follow ...