ISLAMABAD, May 26 -- Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday revealed that the government is working on a "strategic" and reform-driven federal budget for fiscal year 2025-26, aiming to go beyond the traditional approach of simply balancing revenues and expenditures.

Speaking at an event in Islamabad, Aurangzeb said that Pakistan's economy needs a fundamental shift. "The DNA of the economy must change," he noted, emphasizing that the upcoming budget would include bold policy measures to set a long-term direction for economic stability.

Pakistan is currently engaged in high-level talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which began on May 19. These discussions are focused on fiscal planning and reforms. With negotiations s...