Published June 5, 2026 Updated about an hour ago By N H Zuberi KARACHI: The Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) has urged the government to reduce government sector expenditure by up to Rs3 trillion in the upcoming federal budget and present a clear economic roadmap focused on sustainable growth, investment, and business revival. PBF Chief Organiser Ahmad Jawad said the forthcoming budget, which will be the government’s third since the general elections, must move beyond traditional revenue-generation measures and instead prioritize economic expansion, industrial competitiveness, and public relief. Expressing concern over the country’s growing debt burden, Jawad noted that Pakistan’s national debt has increased from approximately Rs19 trillion to nearly Rs80 trillion over the past decade. “The success of the upcoming budget will depend on whether the government can generate revenue from under-taxed sectors rather than continuing to place the bulk of the burden on the already documented business community,” he said. The Forum stressed that the budget may reflect ground realities and provide meaningful relief to both businesses and the general public. “The decision to enter the IMF programme was the government’s own choice.However, the IMF does not require government to place an additional burden on businesses and citizens every year. If the economy is to move forward, meaningful relief measures may be introduced,” Jawad added. PBF also proposed abolishing the petroleum levy and replacing it with an 18 percent General Sales Tax (GST) on petroleum…