Pakistan’s economy is facing a critical moment ahead of Budget 2027.

For decades, Pakistan’s fiscal policy has followed the same pattern: Raise taxes when revenue falls, impose more withholding taxes when growth slows, and put more burden on already documented sectors.

The result?

• Weak investment
• Slow industrial growth
• Falling competitiveness of exporters
• A rapidly growing cash economy

In this video, we discuss the following with Javed Qureshi, CEO Pakistan Business Council, and Younus Dagha, former finance secy:

• Why Pakistan needs an ‘out-of-the-box’ budget
• The growing burden on the formal corporate sector and salaried class
• Why retail, agriculture, real estate and services remain largely outside the tax net
• The rise of undocumented economy in Pakistan
• Pakistan’s low investment-to-GDP ratio
• Falling foreign direct investment (FDI)
• Why investors still lack confidence in Pakistan’s economy
• Whether Budget 2027 will bring real reforms or more taxes

Can Pakistan finally move toward a growth-driven and documented economy — or will the country remain trapped in the same low-growth cycle