Published June 15, 2026 Updated about 5 hours ago By Recorder Report KARACHI: While reacting to the budget, the President of the Federal B. Area Association of Trade & Industry (FBATI), Sheikh Muhammad Tehseen, stated that though the budget contained certain positive measures for the selected sectors, yet it had failed to fully address the critical challenges being faced by the industrial and export sectors of the country. He expressed serious concerns over the government’s silence regarding the long-pending issue of industrial refunds and the absence of any meaningful relief in energy tariffs. He said that delayed refund payments continued to create severe liquidity constraints for the industries, particularly for the exporters, while high electricity and gas costs had been significantly eroding the competitiveness of Pakistani products in international markets. Sheikh Tehseen noted that the budget lacked a comprehensive roadmap for industrial growth and did not present a vision capable of triggering an industrial revival. He said that small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), which formed the backbone of the country’s manufacturing and export sectors, had not been provided with sufficient incentives, financing facilities, or tax relief measures. As a result, these industries would continue to face operational difficulties, limiting their ability to expand production, create employment opportunities, and increase exports. The FBATI president emphasized that Pakistan’s economic stability and sustainable growth depended heavily on industrial expansion and export-led development. He said that…