ISLAMABAD: The government Thursday made it clear that the budgetary targets would be finalised in consultation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and hinted at slapping additional taxes of less than Rs500 billion in the upcoming budget.
The government also announced that the salaries of government employees would be increased [in the budget]. Briefing the National Standing Committee on Finance about the macroeconomic targets, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Waqar Masood said the government would envisage GDP growth target of 5 percent and 8.2 percent inflation for the next fiscal year.
The committee met at the Parliament House here with Faiz Ullah Kamoka in the chair. He said the IMF wanted to fix the FBR target at Rs5.963 trillion but it would be set after evolving consensus with it.