As soon as the annual budget is announced the print and electronic media is awash with figures and analyses that seem to mean nothing to an ordinary eye -- total outlay Rs7,022 billion, expenditure Rs6,717, deficit Rs3,560 billion and so on. People’s only concern: will the new budget add to their problems or make their life any easier.

The federal budget 2019-20 did not spring any surprises in terms of relief to the common people. In view of the country’s economic condition at the time of the budget’s announcement, it was expected difficult times would follow. Talks with the IMF had already dragged a bit too long and the overall political and economic uncertainty left no room to be optimistic.

This budget is the natural outcome of all these imperatives. The government was adamant the new budget would not bring bad news for the common man who had voted the PTI government into power. This promise of was hard to swallow as the IMF programme meant withdrawal of subsidies and high inflation.

While the government maintains the budget does not largely hit the economically marginalised sections of society, the situation on the ground belies its claims. Inflation has already manifested itself in the form of rising prices of basic commodities, such as ghee, pulses, flour, etc. The budget also proposes bringing down the bar of taxable income. Add to it indirect taxation already gnawing at the very limited income of the salaried class. On the macro-economic front, has anything tangible been offered to the industry to increase its exports and generate more revenue and employment?

Also read: Unravelling the budget

Budgetary speeches will continue to mean nothing unless the assurances given by the economic managers translate into solid relief to the person in the street.