Opposition criticizes Federal Budget 2020-21; describes it as being made in ‘alien’s planet’
PHOTO: APP
On Monday, lawmakers started debate on the Finance Bill 2020-21 that was introduced on Friday. After the speech of the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Swati, a Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker, Mushtaq Ahmed, brought to the notice of Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani that no FBR official was present in the house.
The Senate chairman expressed displeasure over absence of the FBR officials and noted that the tax collection authority is answerable to parliament. He said the budget session was conditional to the presence of the FBR officials as he deferred the proceedings till Wednesday.
“The FBR chairperson, member customs, member policy and member income tax will appear in the house before commencement of the session on Wednesday,” the chairman noted.
Earlier starting the debate, Senator Sherry Rehman, who belongs to the PPP, criticized the budget and said it appeared to be a replica of the previous year’s budget.
“The situation is very serious and the nation is looking to the parliament. However, the proposed budget seems to have been made in some other planet. It is a cut-paste copy of last year’s budget.”
She said the PTI led federal government is using coronavirus pandemic as a cover to hide failures of its economic policies. “Even before emergence of the pandemic, the people had started asking as to who is defining the economic policies of the country,” she said.
Senator Raza Rabbani, who also belongs to the PPP, said the proposed budget does not have anything for the poor. He claimed that the government froze the defence budget and the salaries and pensions of the government employees on the desire of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“IMF had never been allowed so much liberty to influence a budget in the history of Pakistan,” he said.
Responding to the opposition’s comments, Leader of the House Dr Shahzad Waseem said the budget document does not merely contain figures, it has a complete roadmap for future progress.
He said the budget is a reflection of the PTI leadership’s vision and revolves around three principles – compassion, sacrifices and reforms. “The government has announced a stimulus package of Rs1,200 billion. Rs150 billion were disbursed among poor families and Rs200 billion among daily wage earners.”
Dr Waseem said utility bills of the consumers were delayed for three months and Rs100 billion was specified for small business sector in view of the pandemic.
He said the government has expedited the reform process in all public sector enterprises to turn them around. Sugar scandal report was made public for the first time in the country’s history, he added.
He said the government completed 149 projects under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and allocated Rs650 billion in the budget under PSDP 2020-21. Under the PSDP 2020-21, various development projects would be launched in all provinces which would help create job opportunities.
The PTI lawmaker said health has already been devolved to the provinces under the 18th amendment.
He said it is the basic responsibility of the provinces to strengthen health facilities in their respective jurisdiction, but due to coronavirus pandemic, the federal government has fully supported the provincial governments and provided all required equipment to them.
“Despite a critical situation caused by the pandemic, food supply chain has remained stable in Pakistan. The government has announced an agriculture package worth Rs100 billion besides allocating hefty amount for agricultural emergency programme,” he added.
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