Pakistan, June 14 -- The government plans to collect Rs535 billion in income tax from the salaried class in FY 2025-26, despite offering only Rs56 billion in tax relief. The relief comes from a 2% to 4% reduction in tax rates across various salary slabs. However, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance called this relief a "joke," saying it does not ease the financial pressure on workers.

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial told the committee that about 981,051 salaried individuals will benefit from the minor tax cuts. Still, the overall tax collection remains high due to a 10% rise in salaries and modest economic growth. This keeps the burden on the salaried class heavy.

The committee highlighted...