Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has said that preparing the upcoming national budget will be challenging due to a fragile economy, pressure to implement election pledges, and the ongoing war in the Middle East. He made the remarks on Wednesday after a meeting with officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), where he discussed fiscal strategies for the next financial year.

The minister noted that the economy is already under strain, and the government faces obligations to fulfill its electoral commitments. The Middle East conflict has further complicated the situation by increasing costs, particularly in energy imports. He emphasized that the government aims to design a budget that boosts revenue collection without harming investment and employment.

Chowdhury added that the government does not intend to print money and seeks to reduce dependence on borrowing, moving instead toward an investment-driven economy. The upcoming budget will focus on ensuring resources for development and encouraging both domestic and foreign investment.