K-P opposition terms federal budget ‘economic suicide’

Businessmen forewarn of economic devastation

PESHAWAR: The provincial political opposition has joined the chorus of the businessmen of the province in rejecting the federal budget presented, terming it as ‘economic suicide of the poor masses’ and dictation from the global financial bodies.

This was stated by the Pakhtunkhwa Jamhuri Ittihad (PJI) convener Sikandar Hayat Sherpao from the Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) at the Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday.

The financial budget for the fiscal year 2019-20 was prepared in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) secretariat, who have imposed matchless taxation on the poor masses and through a heinous scheme, budgetary allocations have been reduced, said Sherpao.

He added that the government has imposed taxes through various means, including direct and indirect taxes on the poor and salaried classes.

Sherpao further said that the claims of zero changes to the defence budget were just that.

“Never in the history of the country were prices of daily utilities increased,” he said, adding that even government employees have rejected the 10% increase granted in their salaries against the prevailing tax regime.

“The incompetent government has adopted failed internal and external policies, while the public has been deceived through fake election slogans and fraudulent promises,” he stated.

The PJI leadership also condemned the references filed against a senior judiciary member. This is a setback for the judicial system in the country, said PJI office bearer Afzal Khamosh.

Khamosh, PJI member Shahab Khattak, Ajmal Afridi, and others held up placards and
banners during the news conference and chanted slogans against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government.

Businessmen reject budget

Office bearers of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) have rejected the federal budget for the fiscal year 2019-20 and added that federal government only knows the art of leveling taxes but lacks expertise in expanding its sources of income.

This was stated by SCCI President Faiz Muhammad Faizi after the federal budget was presented. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2019.