Pakistan, Feb. 26 -- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday stressed the need for reducing direct taxes "across the board" in the upcoming budget to facilitate the business community.

The premier made the remarks while addressing the inaugural session of the two-day Pakistan Governance Forum 2026, which was attended by businesspersons as well.

PM Shehbaz stressed the need for increasing economic growth, production, exports, investments and foreign direct investments (FDI), rather than relying on hiking taxes.

He said: "I believe that in the upcoming budget - which will come a few months later - we must decrease direct taxes across the board so that businesspersons and investors are facilitated.

"My entire team and I are united on ...