ISLAMABAD, Jun 21 (APP):Terming the Federal Budget 2022-23 ‘balanced’ in difficult economic circumstances, lawmakers in the National Assembly on Tuesday demanded more relief measures for the common man suffering from the last three and half years due to bad governance and wrong economic policies of the past regime.
Participating in a debate on budgetary proposals, Professor Shahnaz Baloch of Balochistan National Party (BNP) suggested the government to purchase petroleum products from Iran at reduced rate as compared to other international markets for providing more relief to the masses.
She highlighted the importance of ensuring more facilities at the Gwadar deep sea port for increased activities.
She stressed improving law and order across the country as it would help in restoring confidence of investors and move the economic wheel at a fast pace.
Chaudhry Riaz-ul-Haq of PML-N said it was an appropriate budget in difficult situation.
However, implementing the budget proposals in true letter and spirit could improve the situation significantly. He demanded overcoming Rs 50 billion deficit of Pakistan Railways and Rs 100 billion deficit of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
Ms Shams un Nisa of Pakistan Peoples Party lamented severe water shortage in Sindh and urged the government to provide drip irrigation equipments to famers of Sindh especially Thatta.
Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz Tahira Aurangzeb lauded the budget proposal of paying interest free loans amounting to Rs 100,000 to Rs 400,000 to youth for starting their own business.
She said that from Rs. 400,000 to one million would be given to youth at the rate of 3 percent by the government for the same purpose.
She said that it was also announced that from Rs. 1 million to Rs 10 million would be given to youth at the rate of 4 percent for setting up business and that move would help in ending the unemployment in the country. In addition to these measures, she disclosed that some 100,000 trained youth would also be provided jobs.
Muttahida Majlis–e–Amal Pakistan Kamal Uddin said that the government had announced balanced budget despite difficult economic situation. It was unfortunate that various national institutions were running in losses due to bad economic policies of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.
He was of the view that approaching International Monitory Fund (IMF) was a difficult decision for the government. The government had to take difficult decisions just for the sake of people and the country.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Rana MNA Muhammad Qasim Noon said,” I must appreciate the government for announcing a balanced budget in such very bad economic situation”. The government had to take tough decisions to put the country on the right economic track.
He said that political stability was pre-requisite for economic progress, prosperity and development. “No economic progress was possible without political stability,” he added.
Announcing incentives for agriculture sector and withdrawal of taxes on agriculture inputs would bring positive impacts on this important sector, he said.
He asked the government to take steps for ending black marketing of the fertilizers.
He also thanked the government for addressing the issues of South Punjab and added that the construction of Multan, Sukkur road was half century long demand of the people.
He thanked for establishing industrial Zones which definitely help ending unemployment in the areas.
Pakistan People Party Parliamentarians Naz Baloch strongly condemned derogatory remarks of BJP leaders against Holy Prophet Hazarat Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him (PBUH).
Paying glowing tributes to Shaheed Mohtarma Banazir Bhutto on her 69th birth day, she said sacrifices rendered by her for strengthening democracy would be remembered for ever.
She reminded that when PPP assumed powers in year 2008, the country became self sufficient in wheat production within the period of six months.
She said that it was unfortunate that Pakistan had started importing wheat instead of exporting due to wrong policies of the PTI government. She appreciated the government for withdrawing GST on fertilizers and seeds to ensure provision of agriculture input to farmers at cheaper rates.
She asked the government for allocating more finances for Karachi city and uplift of Balochistan province.
Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz legislature Ali Zahid asked the international community to take action against BJP leaders, who were involved in hurling derogatory remarks about prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
He said that despite difficult economic situation the government had announced people and business friendly budget. He criticized the PTI government for ignoring interest of the common men and said that people of the country would reject them in the general elections.
Federal Minister Javed Latif said the pubic had complete confidence in the policies of incumbent coalition government that believed it would steer the country out of the prevailing economic crisis, despite the increasing value of dollar against rupee and surging prices of petrol, gas and electricity.
He said the current government was a true reflection of the federation as all major political parties from all provinces were its part and making collective efforts for revival of the ailing economic.
He said the previous government of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had badly ruined the national economy due to wrong policies, stressing the need to public all the agreements signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by the Imran Khan-led government.
The minister informed the House that the amount of four wrist watches were deposited in the ‘Tosha Khana’ account after selling them in the market, adding it should also be probed that which housing society had built the Zaman Park residence [of Imran Khan.]
He said it was unfortunate that culprits behind the Ring Road project, medicines, sugar and wheat scandals had not been made accountable by the previous regime.
Javed Latif underlined the need for making necessary legislation to correct wrongdoings of the PTI government.
Salahuddin Ayubi of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Pakistan (MMAP) highlighted the issues being faced by people of Balochistan, especially those living in the proximity of Pak-Afghan border, due to the closure of the cross-border trade of different commodities.
He requested for constituting a parliamentary committee, under NA speaker, to look into such issues and find their amicable solution in consultation with elected representatives of Balochistan.
Upon this, Deputy Speaker Zahid Akram Durrani observed to reactivate the committee that already existed for the purpose, and referred the issue raised by the lawmaker to the committee.
Mussarat Rafique Mahesar of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) paid tribute to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto on her 69th birth anniversary, recalling her services rendered for the cause of democracy.
She said the vision-less PTI government had played havoc with the national economy as it had no competent finance minister, holding the past regime responsible for the current wave of inflation caused by agreements it signed with the IMF.
The MNA suggested the government to give low-income group easy loans so that they could establish their own business and achieve financial self-reliance.
She was of the view that 15 percent increase proposed in salaries of government employees was extremely insufficient when inflation was at the all time high, suggesting for further increase in the pays and reduction in their taxes.
Ahmed Hussain Deharr of PTI termed the budget 2022-23 ‘the most difficult’ in history of the country as it was on verge of the default due to failed economic policies of the past rulers.
He said it was unfortunate the previous government had miserably failed to tolerate criticism of lawmakers which was meant for improvement in different sectors and living standard of the common man. “They (the PTI government) used abusive language against the critics, whether they were from opposition or treasury benches.”
Instead of fulfilling promises made with the public and making prudent policies to deliver, he said the PTI government indulged in using abusive languages against its critics.
The lawmakers said only 8 percent of the total budget had been allocated development projects that was extremely insufficient, so it should be increased substantially.
He said the government institution should be bound to use services of Pakistan Post for official correspondence instead of using other private sector services.
He said economists should frame such policies that served the state purpose not the governments as ‘governments come and go, but it is the state that stays.’
Besides, he said the training of civil servants should be in line with the principle of service delivery, not ruling the masses considering them their subservient.
Javaria Zafar Aheer of PTI said there was no doubt that the inflation was a global phenomenon, but the government should also keep in mind the per capita income of the developed countries and Pakistan.
She proposed to further increase the salaries of government employees so that they could feel some comfort while making their monthly-budget with meager resources.
She also asked for waiving off loans of the farming community of Thal areas to prevent auction of their pledged lands, making them unable to cultivate their seasonal crop of gram.
Sajid Mehdi of PML-N while expressing concern said that the internal conspiracies have weaken Pakistan and urged all political parties to join hands for progress and prosperity of the country.
Pakistan has not allocated any budget for research as innovations were key for ensuring progress of the country.
He urged finance ministry to devise a plan for making country self sufficient in agriculture products. The government should take stringent measures to control corruption from the country.
Ms Nuzhat Pathan of PTI alleged that the bureaucracy was economically ruining the country. Talking about precious hajj, she said that due to inflation middle class of the society could not think to perform hajj.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Shakila Luqman appreciated the government team led by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sarif for presenting a balanced budget and said that measures announced in the budget would provide relief to the masses.
She said that all the neighbouring countries including China had expressed willingness to work with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “China had given the name “Shehbaz speed” to prime minister due to his commitment towards work. She said that PML-N had constructed roads, motorways, and metros to facilitate the masses.
Ayesha Rajab Ali said that due to hectic efforts of the government, the problem of load-shedding was nearing to an end in the country. She added that load shedding and terrorism issues had been controlled during the regime of PML-N under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif.
She said that PML-N government took charge of the country with economic crisis, but assured that his party would steer the country out from the current economic crunch.
Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’s Zaib Jaffar said that the government had provided relief to masses on the purchase of daily used items.
She also appreciated the government for allocating funds for education, health and agriculture sectors during the upcoming budget. She asked the government to provide laptops to children in the remote areas. She criticized the PTI chief for deceiving the people.
