Islamabad : Member of the National Assembly and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Sabin Ghori strongly criticized the Federal Budget 2025-26 during her speech in the National Assembly, labeling it as “anti-people and an IMF-driven budget.” She said the budget offers no relief to the inflation-hit public and shows the government’s lack of seriousness and sensitivity towards women, minorities, and crucial sectors like climate change.
Sabin Ghori stated that instead of bringing a people-friendly budget, the government has further burdened the already suffering masses. She emphasized that ninety-eight percent of Pakistan’s population is being crushed under the weight of inflation, yet there’s no mention of relief measures for them in this budget. According to her, this is not a budget, but another economic assault on the people.
She expressed deep concern over the lack of representation of women in the development budget. She highlighted that out of the total Rs. 4,224 billion development budget, not a single rupee has been allocated for women, despite women making up 51% of Pakistan’s population. She questioned how a nation could claim sustainable development while ignoring half of its population. She said women constitute 18% of the Parliament, yet they have been persistently overlooked by the government for years. She added that even those elected on reserved seats are public representatives, and they have a constitutional and democratic right to development funds.
Sabin Ghori revealed that the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister promised development funds to women parliamentarians last year, but those promises remain unfulfilled. She criticized the government’s failure to introduce separate development schemes for female parliamentarians, saying it reflects a lack of seriousness and commitment towards gender equality. She also pointed out that even after approval from the National Economic Council, women-specific projects failed to make it into the final budget.
She lamented that both federal and provincial Annual Development Plans (ADPs) have completely ignored the inclusion of women and minorities, highlighting a total absence of gender equity in the allocation of development funds. According to Ghori, this neglect undermines both constitutional principles and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She further pointed out that the developmental needs of minorities have also been completely ignored. Despite playing a significant role in the country, there is no comprehensive program in the budget addressing the welfare of religious and ethnic minorities.
On the issue of climate change, Sabin Ghori said that although the government claims to prioritize environmental issues, the budget does not reflect this commitment. She criticized the lack of effective policies, saying that the allocated climate budget remains ineffective without proper implementation frameworks. She stated that Pakistan is severely impacted by climate change, yet practical action remains inadequate. Ghori acknowledged that although the government has worked on climate change over the past decade, the results are still alarming and far from satisfactory.
Addressing the IT and e-commerce sector, Sabin Ghori criticized the government’s contradictory approach. She said that first, they offer incentives to the IT sector, and then abruptly impose taxes. She pointed out that more than 30 million users in Pakistan still lack access to basic internet services, and bringing the IT sector under the tax net prematurely could prove counterproductive. Despite a record surge in exports, she said, imposing immediate taxation on the IT industry will hamper its growth. According to Ghori, the new taxation policy may reverse years of development efforts in the IT sector.
Sabin Ghori described the federal budget as a game of numbers, detached from the realities on the ground. She said that if the government continues to ignore women, minorities, environmental threats, and the IT sector, it will not only undermine the democratic system but also cast serious doubts on the country’s future political strategy. She demanded that gender equity be ensured in development fund allocation, and that women parliamentarians be granted their rightful share. She also called for the introduction of inclusive programs for minorities and concrete steps to address climate change.
After her address, several other women lawmakers from the opposition endorsed Sabin Ghori’s position and echoed similar concerns, demanding the government revisit its policies. The ongoing budget session of the National Assembly is drawing sharp criticism from opposition benches, and voices like Sabin Ghori’s are expected to increase pressure on the government to rethink its approach to inclusive and equitable national development.
