Journalists protest delays finance minister's post-budget news conference

The journalist community held a strong protest demonstration against the imposition of heavy taxes on salaried classes in the proposed federal budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 in Islamabad on Thursday.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the journalists of the capital city held the protests just before the post-budget press conference of Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.
Due to the journalist community's protest, the scheduled post-budget press conference of the federal finance minister was delayed.
Journalists from both print and electronic media have called on the government to withdraw the newly imposed tax on salaried individuals across the country.
They argue that this measure is unjust and oppressive, particularly for those who are already struggling to cope with high inflation and inadequate salary packages, making it difficult for them to meet their basic needs.
A representative organization of public servants, the All Government Employees Grand Alliance AGEGA) has also protested against the low salaries in Islamabad yesterday and asked the government to meet all demands of its employees.
The (AGEGA) demanded 100 per cent increase in the house rent, medical and conveyance allowances for employees. Similarly, the protestors have asked the government to ensure that all its employees receive equal pay.
The protestors also asked the government to fix the minimum wage of a labourer at Rs50,000.
It is worth mentioning that the federal government has proposed a 35% maximum tax on the salaried class in its next year's budget statement.
Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb presented the budget yesterday in a tumultuous session of the National Assembly in which he revealed the income tax measures for the earners.
As per the announcedment of the income tax slabs 2024, there's zero tax on those whose earnings do not surpass Rs600,000.
Where the income exceeds Rs600,000 but does not exceed Rs1,200,000 the tax rate will be 15% of the amount exceeding Rs600,000.
Where taxable income surpasses Rs1,200,000 but does not breach Rs1,600,000, Rs90,000 + 20% of the amount exceeding Rs1,200,000 will be imposed.
Where taxable income goes beyond Rs1,600,000 but remains with Rs3,600,000, Rs170,000 + 30% of the amount exceeding Rs1,600,000 will be collected.
When the income exceeds Rs3,600,000 but does not go beyond Rs5,600,000, Rs650,000 + 40% of the amount exceeding Rs3,600,000 will be accumulated.
Where taxable income breaches Rs5,600,000, Rs1,610,000 + 45% of the amount exceeding Rs5,600,000 will be received by the national exchequer.