KARACHI:

Representatives of the Salaried Class Alliance Pakistan have raised serious concerns over the proposed Finance Bill 2025-26, calling it unfair to the country’s most tax-compliant group.

Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Thursday, alliance members Bilal Farooq Alvi, Rizwan Hussain, Adeel Khan, and Lesha Fazal said salaried individuals have seen their tax contributions rise from Rs76.44 billion in FY2018-19 to over Rs550 billion in FY2024 -25 — a jump of nearly 719%.

They said this increase reflects inflation and policy changes, not real income growth. Key concerns include taxation on pension funds, increased taxes on bank and mutual fund profits, and the continued 10% surcharge on high-income earners, while undocumented sectors remain untaxed.

They urged the government to raise the tax-free salary slab to Rs100,000 per month, restore earlier slab rates, reduce the top slab to 32.5% and the second-highest to 27.5%, and keep the lowest slab at 1% as per the budget speech.

They also demanded the reinstatement of tax credits for insurance, education, and investments, removal of the 10% surcharge, and equal treatment of all taxpayers.