NA debates budget for third day

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Thursday continued the debate on National Budget 2010-11.

Taking part in the budget debate, PML-N member Tehmina Daultana said the country can never made a people-friendly budget until a free and independent policy is formulated. She said on one hand, the government claims to be striving for reduction inflation and poverty but on the other hand it has increased one per cent of General Sales Tax and is likely to impose VAT after sometime.

Daultana claimed the benefits of Benazir Income Support Programme have been confined to the PPP constituencies, adding the public sector entities including PIA, railways and Pakistan Steel Mills are incapable to contribute desired revenue to national exchequer, so it is essential to improve their functioning or else decide their fate.

Hamayun Saifullah Khan of PML-Q participating in the debate stressed the need for construction of more water reservoirs in the country in order to provide more irrigation water to agriculture sector and generate electricity for the prosperity.

He said if the government provides a farmer good seeds, mechanize agriculture without water, the sector will not benefit. He also called for generating electricity by utilizing country's water resources in order to provide cheap electricity to the people.

Hamayun said generation of electricity through rental power would be expensive for the country and its people and focus should be made for the generation of electricity through hydel means to provide cheap electricity to the people.

He appreciated the government for launching Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) added that the programme has benefitted the poor segment of the society.

He also appreciated the government for 18th constitutional amendment and decision of 7th National Finance Commission Award (NFC) after 19-year under which the provinces would get share of 57.5 per cent from the federal divisible pool.

Speaker Fehmida Mirza directed Khurshid Ahmad Shah to contact members of the Assembly, asking them to attend the session and take part in the debate as the session observed poor attendance.