Islamabad (Syed Javed Hassan Shah): Reacting to the approval of the federal budget, President of the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ayub Mariani, stated that sustainable economic growth is impossible without creating a business-friendly environment. He expressed continued concern over the rising cost of doing business and increased tax burden.

Mariani highlighted that the growing taxes on raw materials and the potential increase in electricity and gas prices will lead to higher production costs. This, he warned, would further fuel inflation and erode consumers’ purchasing power. He urged for a review of decisions related to sales tax and income tax to promote business activities.

The President also acknowledged some positive measures for the export sector in the budget. However, he stressed the need for a clearer strategy to resolve issues in the energy sector, stating that “significant growth in exports is not possible until energy prices are competitive.”

Ayub Mariani concluded by emphasizing that the government must now focus on addressing the concerns of the business community to put the economy on a path of development.