Budget features bold measures for ‘strategic direction’

• Finance minister hints at simplified tax returns for salaried class
• Claims every possible support to be made available for armed forces
• Privatisation drive to be ‘accelerated’ in next fiscal year; PIA, three Discos to be privatised by year end
• Flags population growth, climate change as existential threats

ISLAMABAD: Promising simplified tax returns for the salaried class, Finance Minister Muhammad Aura­ng­zeb on Monday pledged that the up­co­ming federal budget would...