PTI’s Shahram Khan says businesses being treated like criminals under Finance Bill

Opposition lawmaker Shahram Khan of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf strongly criticized the Finance Bill during the National Assembly

Islamabad: Opposition lawmaker Shahram Khan of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf strongly criticized the Finance Bill during the National Assembly budget session, saying the government’s tax policy has made it feel as if “earning money has become a crime” for businesspeople in Pakistan.

Speaking during the budget debate on June 23, 2026, Shahram Khan said the biggest issue in the country is that businesses are closing down or shrinking because of high taxes, expensive electricity, and the rising cost of production.

He said the direction of any government can be judged by its legislation and spending priorities. He added that the Finance Bill shows the government is putting more pressure on businesses instead of helping them grow.

The PTI MNA said the business community is already facing Super Tax, Income Tax and other taxes, while the new money bill has also increased penalties and fines for non-compliance.

He said fines for failure to comply with tax requirements or file returns have been increased on a daily basis. According to him, some fines have been raised to Rs2,000 per day, while others have been increased from Rs10,000 to Rs50,000.

Shahram Khan said these measures are being imposed on people who are running businesses and creating economic activity in the country. He said the government and tax authorities should not look at every businessman as a wrongdoer.

He said officials from the Federal Board of Revenue, Income Tax, Sales Tax and Customs appear to treat businesspeople as guilty before listening to them. He said this approach is damaging confidence in the economy.

The opposition member said the entire tax regime should be reviewed because there is hardly any relief for businesses. He said the government wants revenue, jobs and investment, but it is not ready to support the businesses that can create all three.

He said the government expects businesses to give everything to the state, while the state gives them only pressure and punishment in return. He said if the government tries to fix everything through force, it will fail.

Shahram Khan said many businesses have already shifted out of the country, while many others have reduced their operations. He said unemployment is increasing because businesses are not expanding.

He claimed that more than 1.5 million people have left the country, and said this shows that people and businesses are losing confidence in the economic environment.

The PTI lawmaker also raised the issue of Independent Power Producers, commonly known as IPPs. He said the IPP model and capacity payments are among the reasons electricity has become very expensive.

He said expensive electricity has increased the cost of production so much that local businesses are finding it difficult to compete in Pakistani and international markets.

He said when the cost of producing goods is too high, local industry cannot compete with foreign products. He added that in many cases, imported goods also become expensive, while local industry still cannot grow because of high costs.

Shahram Khan said if the government is interested in taking strict action, it should find a permanent solution to the IPP issue instead of putting pressure only on businesses.

He also criticized the imposition of sales tax on solar energy. He said this was unfair because poor people, small businesses and industrialists use solar power to reduce their electricity cost and remain competitive.

He said a person who installs solar power is often trying to reduce the cost of production or household expenses, but the government is taxing even that option.

The PTI MNA said the government does not appear to have a clear policy to support local industry. He said instead of helping people reduce costs, the government is increasing taxes on them.

He also focused on small and medium businesses. He said inflation has increased the cost of doing business, making it harder for small shopkeepers, traders and business owners to survive.

Shahram Khan urged the government to increase the threshold for small and medium businesses from Rs250,000 to at least Rs500,000 or more. He said this would provide some space to smaller businesses struggling under inflation.

He said small and medium businesses need support because they create jobs and keep local economic activity alive. He said if such businesses grow, people will get employment and the economy will move forward.

The opposition lawmaker asked the government to support local industry instead of waiting for foreign investment. He said the country has already seen how much foreign investment is coming, and many people have left Pakistan while waiting for better economic conditions.

He said Pakistan must support its own people, its own businesses and its own local ideas. He said tax relief should be given to local and medium businesses so they can grow and hire more workers.

Shahram Khan said job creation is directly linked with business growth. He warned that if businesses continue to face difficulties, the common man will suffer the most because unemployment will rise further.

He said the government cannot build a strong economy by placing tax after tax on people. He said repeated taxation has badly affected citizens and businesses.

The PTI MNA said if the government wants revenue, it should first help businesses survive and grow. He said once businesses expand, they will create jobs, increase production and contribute more to the national economy.

He said Pakistan’s economic progress depends on supporting local industry, reducing the cost of production, solving the electricity pricing problem and creating a fair tax system.

Shahram Khan concluded by urging the government to review its approach toward businesses, saying that more taxes and more fines will not solve the country’s economic problems. He said the government should give relief to businesses so that the country can move toward development and job creation.