Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) Chairman Muhammad Zohaib Khan expressed disappointment over the budget for failing to address P@SHA’s proposals for IT growth. He noted that none of their demands were met and that the skilled salaried class now faces higher income taxes, potentially leading to a significant brain drain. The Rs79 billion allocation is primarily for government projects and IT parks, with no payroll incentives for the IT industry to address remote worker issues.
Khan also criticized the GST increase on IT hardware from 5% to 10%, arguing that it will hinder digitalisation efforts. He emphasized that the budget does not fulfill the promises made by the government and stated that P@SHA will seek clarification and request necessary amendments to support the IT sector’s growth.
