Presented on June 11, the budget, worth Rs422 billion, was passed after a debate of more than ten days in which around 110 legislators took part.
There was extra cause for celebration on the part of the finance and law departments, as they were awarded bonuses - three months’ salary - because of their hard work in the budget-making process.
During the session, Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, who also holds the portfolio of provincial finance minister, presented 59 demands worth Rs415 billion.
All the cut motions of the joint opposition, a whopping 552 in number, seeking reductions in different allocations, were rejected. Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro advised the opposition and treasury members that it would be difficult to discuss every demand and cut motion, and suggested lumping together all the cut motions and giving ten minutes to every member.
MPA Shaharyar Maher said billions of rupees have been allocated for the purchase of furniture for different government departments. Of note was his assertion that Rs100 million have been spent on the maintenance of the chief minister’s helicopter in last year’s budget. “Why does the chief minister not travel by road or a regular flight,” he suggested. According to Maher, a fault is found in the CM’s helicopter every day. “It has become a white elephant for the government.”
He said that about Rs5 billion have been allocated for grants and subsidies, but it has not been mentioned who the subsidies are for. “About Rs10 billion can be saved by reducing unnecessary expenses,” he claimed.
Leader of the Opposition Jam Madad Ali said that, much like the commitment shown in the negotiation of the NFC award, the CM should also come forward and set a precedent by reducing expenditures under different heads.
Nusrat Saher Abbasi said that while people do not have the money to buy food, the government has proposed to buy office tables worth Rs80,000.
Responding to the opposition, the chief minister said that their demands are not realistic because the government’s expenses increase with rising prices. He said that, out of the allocated Rs190 million, they had utilised Rs170 million for the CM Secretariat last year while the remaining Rs20 million were returned to the finance department.
He said that in this fast-paced world, they have to move quickly from one place to another and that is why he needed the helicopter. “I realise that the repairs are very costly so we are going to sell it soon.”
Shah said that, previously, chief ministers never paid utility bills of the CM house and spent Rs50 million for other things. “Recently we have paid Rs30 million for the House’s utility bills,” he claimed.
“During the Pakistan Peoples Party tenure, pensions have been raised from Rs300 to Rs1500.”
Regarding grants and writing-off loans, Shah said that they have allocated the amount for those government employees who had either died or fallen ill. “This is not for landlords or industrialists,” he said.
The finance bill was passed after cutting taxes of real estate trust from three per cent to 0.5 per cent. Under the finance bill, the Sindh government will now get the capital value tax (CVT) on immovable property instead of the federal government. For 240 to 499 sq. yds, two per cent; from 500 to 1,000 sq yds, 2.5 per cent; and for 1,001 sq yds and above, three per cent CVT will be collected. Meanwhile Rs75 per square yard will be charged for immovable property which is not recorded.
Mirza praises Cowasjee
It is difficult for the police to take action on violations by drivers of luxury vehicles because high-ups themselves would intervene, said Sindh Home Minister Zulfikar Ali Mirza.
Replying to a query by Heer Ismail Soho during the question-answer session, Mirza said that instead of being rewarded for honesty, policemen got into trouble. Ardeshir Cowasjee was cited as an example, as he had given a policeman a reward for doing his job and issuing him a challan.
“I am really thankful to the Chief Justice of Pakistan for ordering vehicles without number plates to be removed from the high court,” he said. He said that terrorists could benefit from vehicles without number plates, necessitating the need for such vehicles to be restricted.
He said that the weapons seized from arrested smugglers were kept in the “Malkhana” and later sold to citizens.
When Humeera Alwani asked about the police officials working in FIA, he said that 24 were working for the department.
The minister also said that traffic officials should take action against under-age drivers.
Mirza said that he had violated traffic laws at the age of 13 by driving a vehicle. “I continued driving without a driving license till I was 22,” he said proudly. “I am an expert in escaping. I escaped different cases fabricated against me for about 11 years and the police were unable to arrest me,” he said.
The minister added that 65 people had been kidnapped in Karachi in 2008-2009 and the figure had reduced only slightly to 62 in 2010.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2010.
COMMENTS (2)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ