ISLAMABAD, April 27 (APP):Minister for Climate Change Mushahid Ullah Khan Friday said presenting budget was the mandate of the incumbent government and it had given a pro-poor budget.
“It would give a bad name to the country across the world if the present government did not present the budget,” he said talking to media outside Parliament House.
Regarding opposition’s protest in the National Assembly, the minister said opposition parties were just point-scoring to clear their position but by using such tactics they could not clear their position.
He said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Peoples Party had shown zero performance in the provinces where they were at helm of affairs.
He said Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) had presented its first budget in a critical situation and that time the circumstances were worse but with the passage of time the present government presented balanced budget and gave maximum possible relief to the people.
He said the masses always appreciated last five budgets presented by the PML-N government and opposition always criticized the budget just for point-scoring.
To a question, Mushahid Ullah said PML-N government had not only launched development schemes in Punjab but also in Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Regarding the behavior of PTI leader Murad Saaed in the National Assembly, he said the training of PTI chief Imran Khan was not good.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 27 (APP):Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs Rana Muhammad Afzal Friday said the government has
given a road-map for one year to the new government as industry and investment needed continuity of the
policies.
Talking to media persons outside the Parliament House, the minister said foreign investment was being pouring
in the country and any vacuum could hurt it.
He said the government showed maturity and the people had given full mandate to the PML-N for presenting
the federal budget. The country could not be left for four months without any policy, he added.
He said the budget contained a complete road-map for the next whole fiscal year and the next government has
right to bring change in it.
He said the PML-N government wanted to take the country forward. A complete relief package was announced
for the people in the budget, he added.
The minister said tax relief announced in the budget would largely benefit the common people. The government
announced 10 per cent increase in pension and salary of the employees, he said.
Regarding the opposition protest during budget speech, he said such physical posturing didn’t suit the
lawmakers. The opposition has right to protest but it should be to a certain limit, he said.
Regarding budget speech by Miftah Ismail, he said he remained face of the parliament for the last five
years.
He said he remained Parliamentary Secretary for Finance and Economic Affairs, followed by a State
Minister.
He said it was his party discretion to nominate anyone to present the budget.
Regarding the opposition walkout, he said it showed that the opposition was satisfied with his five-year
performance.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 27 (APP):Minister for Finance, Miftah Ismail on Friday announced to allocate Rs 90 billion to provide rehabilitation and reconstruction facilities to the people, who were affected during the military operations against terrorists.
“Millions of people had to leave their homes in the areas of military operations. We will remember their sacrifices. The government wants to assure them that in this hour of need we will do our best to provide necessary rehabilitation and reconstruction facilities,” the minister said in his budget speech.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 27 (APP):Minister of State for Power Division Abid Sher Ali on Friday said that the government has given relief to every segment of society including poor, farmers and traders in the budget.
Talking to media persons outside the Parliament House, the minister said that nobody can criticize the present budget as it was pro-poor and balanced one.
“Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government rectified the economic mess during its tenure which was created by the previous governments,” he said.
To a question, he said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) wanted to wrap up democracy in the country but they failed in their nefarious designs.
“It has become habit of PTI to attack the institutions of the country and we will not let anyone disgrace the Parliament,” the minister added.
Abid Sher Ali said that today, PTI had saw the trailer and the full movie will be shown in the
next general election, adding that, “We will respond in the same language which they will use.”

ISLAMABAD, Apr 27 (APP):The government on Friday announced an adhoc relief of 10 per cent in the salaries and pensions of civil and military employees in the federal budget 2018-19.
Newly inducted federal Finance Minister Miftah Ismail in his budget speech said the increase would be apart from the major relief the salaried class would get due to drastic slash in the Income Tax rates, announced earlier by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. He said the salaried persons mostly belonged to the middle class and would be the major beneficiary of the relief measures that would have a financial impact of Rs 69 billion.
Miftah Ismail said under the income tax relief package for individuals there would be no tax on income of up to Rs 1.2 million annually, 5% on income exceeding Rs 1.2 million to Rs 2.4 million, Rs 60,000 plus 10% on income from Rs 2.4 to Rs 4.8 million, Rs 180,000 plus 15% on income exceeding Rs 4.8 million. Together with the tax cut, the overall relief for the salaried class would be much higher than the 10% adhoc relief announced in the federal budget.
He said Rs 5 billion had been allocated for Senior Officers Performance Allowance, details of which would be announced later, while Rs 12 billion were earmarked for advances for the purchase and construction of houses, vehicles, etc for government officials.
The House Rent ceiling had been increased by 50%, besides an increase of 50% in the house rent allowance, he added.
Ismail said keeping in view the difficulties of low-paid pensioners, the minimum pension had been increased to Rs 10,000 from the present Rs 6,000. He also announced increase in minimum pension to Rs 15,000 for the pensioners over the age of 75, and raise in family pension from Rs 4,500 to Rs 7,500.
The Overtime Allowance of staff drivers and dispatch riders had been increased from Rs 40 to Rs 80 per hour, he added.

MULTAN, Apr 27 (APP)::Former President Multan Tax Bar Association, Younis Ghazi, has hailed the budget 2018-19 for the tax relief it was offering to all sectors.
The senior chartered accountant and member of Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI’s) executive body also welcomed the initiative of composite audit of companies once in three years, saying it will lessen pressure of tax officials for easy business operations.
He, however, said the revenue target was bigger amid tax relief proposals and added that only a result-oriented effort to expand tax base can help achieve this target.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 27 (APP):Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), Senator Lt General (Retd), Abdul Qayyum on Friday said that present government had presented a public friendly budget.
Budget was presented keeping in view the economic condition of the country, he said while talking to a private news channel.
Expressing satisfaction over sixth budget delivered by the PML-N government, he said providing relief to agriculture sector would help increase the production.
He said the country’s exports was constantly improving due to prudent policies of the present government.
He said every government tried to prepare and deliver better budget than before.
To a question about horse-trading, he said Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Tehrik e Insaf made alliance during Senate elections.
Commenting on status of Miftah Ismail as federal minister, he said it was according to the constitution and law of the country.

ISLAMABAD, April 27 (APP):The federal government allocated Rs24,207.854 million for the development projects of the Interior Division under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the fiscal year 2018-19.
According to PSDP document released by the Finance Ministry on Friday, Rs24037.854 million were allocated from the public resources and Rs170 million will be foreign assistance.
The allocations for major ongoing schemes include Rs600 million for capacity enhancement of Civil Armed Forces (CAF)- Management of Western Border by raising eight additional wings of Frontier Corps Balochistan (North), Rs800 million for capacity enhancement of CAF-Management of Western Border by raising of HQ Frontier Corps Balochistan (South), Rs900 million for capacity enhancement of CAF-Management of Western Border by raising seven additional wings for Frontier Corps (South) and Rs 669.49 million for capacity enhancement of Frontier Corps Balochistan by raising eight additional wings, Rs 256.339 million for construction of police barracks for 100 men each near K Block Islamabad, Rs 291.552 million for construction of accommodation for three wings at Chota Data Khel, Gharlamai and Gharyam North Waziristan Agency.
Rs 616.794 million have been allocated for construction of accommodation for three wings at Hashim, Mena Bajaur Agency and Suran Mohmand Agency, Rs 291.552 million for construction of accommodation wings at Jhalar, Ghurbaz and Saidgul, North Waziristan Agency, Rs 616.794 million for construction of accommodation at Ursoon Chitral, Trippaman Upper Dir and Angoor Ada South Waziristan Agency, Rs 350 million for construction of accommodation for four wings at Chaman Jana, Sama Bazar Orakzai Agency and Sheedano, Sadda Kurram Agency, Rs 376.960 million for construction of accommodation for four wings at Gorgona, Painda, Cheena, Dogra and Shilman Khyber Agency, Rs 422.068 million for construction of four wings at Wacha Bibi, Qamar Isha, Appi Faqir and Dwa toi, North Waziristan Agency, Rs 657.928 million for construction of accommodation for Abdullah Shah Ghazi Rangers at Karachi, Rs 600 million for construction of accommodation for Headquarter Frontier Corps KP South Dera Ghazi Khan, Rs 700 million for construction of Model Prison at H-16, Islamabad, Rs 569 million for establishment of Model Police Station in ICT, Rs 500 million for provision of security infrastructure in Malakand, Swat and other conflict areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rs 625 million for construction of Town Hall MCI House and other related infrastructure for Metropolitan Corporation of Islamabad, Rs 1000 million for establishment of anti-riot force consisting of 2388 officers and construction of accommodation for the officers.
Further allocations for main schemes include Rs 500 million for Islamabad Bus Service Project, Rs 1000 million for Police Hospital, Islamabad, Rs 400 million for Korang River and Rawal Lake Water Treatment Plants, Rs 300 million for National Response Center for Cyber Crimes, Rs 500 million for street pavement and sanitation in Rural Areas of ICT, Islamabad, Rs 450 million for construction of FC hospital for Frontier Corps (South) Turbat HQ Frontier Corps Balochistan (South), Rs 400 million for construction of Frontier Corps KP Hospital at Bara Road Peshawar and Rs 400 million for construction of ICT Administration Complex Phase-II.