PTI govt defends budget amid criticism in NA

Opposition members demand allocations for agriculture sector, raise in salaries, pensions

ISLAMABAD: The parliamentarians from opposition benches unleashed a volley of criticism against the government’s economic policies, prompting the members of treasury benches to defend their decision during the ongoing budget debate.

As the house continued its discussion on the budget for the next fiscal year, the opposition members called into question the budget allocations for the agriculture sector and demanded an increase in the salaries of the government servants and pensions.

Pakistan Peoples Party MNA Shazia Marri advised the government to set realistic targets for the next fiscal year and said that seriousness should be shown in dealing with locusts and other crises.

“The salaries of employees should be enhanced by at least by five to 10 per cent as was done by the Sindh government.”

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Participating in the debate, MQM-P MNA Usama Qadri said, “The minimum wage should be increased to Rs25,000.” He acknowledged that Karachi greatly contributes to the country’s economy but regretted that the city’s development was being ignored.

PTI MNA Junaid Akbar lauded the government’s stimulus package of Rs1,200 billion to support different segments of the society, saying that cash assistance should also be given to the overseas Pakistanis rendered jobless by coronavirus.

PML-N MNA Armaghan Subhani drew the house’s attention towards the agriculture sector, saying interest-free loans should be given to the farmers to strengthen the sector and work on development schemes initiated by the previous government should be resumed and completed.

Another PPP MNA, Shagufta Jumani, said that it was the first time that she had heard that “it was Imran Khan’s Pakistan” as opposed to Quaid-e-Azam’s.

She criticised the government’s economic policies as well as its response to the Covid-19 pandemic. “The PTI-led government has failed to fulfil its promises made to the poor and middle class in the general elections,” she added.

Next, the ruling party’s MNA Saleem Rehman lauded the government for presenting a tax-free budget during the coronavirus pandemic. He told the house that road infrastructure was improved in Swat to promote tourism during the last two years.

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BNP MNA Dr Shahnaz Baloch stressed the need to focus on the development of Balochistan.

Several parliamentarians argued that tax relief was given to the industrial sector in the budget but not the agriculture sector. They also stressed for improving the health infrastructure in the country to cope with Covid-19.

The treasury members were of the view that the opposition parties should support the ruling party in this difficult situation while the opposition members felt that the government failed to deliver on its promises and there was still time for the government to show seriousness by setting some realistic budget targets.

The members also argued over the economic growth, asking the government to cut its expenditures and increase budgetary allocations for agriculture sector. In response, the government members felt that the government presented a balanced budget.

During the session, NA Speaker Asad Qaiser took serious notice of the unparliamentary remarks made by some members in the house on Monday. He said that being the custodian of the house, he would take action against those members no matter if they were from the treasury or opposition benches. “We have to ensure the prestige and dignity of the house.”

Under the rules, Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan said that the members can criticise or raise objections but cannot resort to language ridiculing or humiliating anybody.

During the meeting, it was unanimously decided to reschedule the allotment of days for the consideration of demand for grants, finance bill and supplementary grants. As per the decision, general discussion on budget would conclude on Thursday; grants for demands and cut motions will be discussed on Friday and Saturday, while finance bill will be taken up on Sunday followed by passage of supplementary grants on Monday.