MPs praise budget ‘amid turbulent times’

Members of the National Assembly on Tuesday acknowledged the measures proposed by the coalition government to move the wheel of the economy at a faster pace with "remarkable" allocations of development funds in the proposed federal budget.

Resuming the debate on the federal budget for fiscal year 2023-24, Barjees Tahir of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) acknowledged the challenging economic conditions faced by the government. Nevertheless, he commended the government's efforts in initiating development activities aimed at fostering sustainable economic growth and providing relief to the common man.

He said the budget showcased remarkable development plans and allocated unprecedented funds, demonstrating the incumbent government's strong commitment to steering the country towards consistent progress and development.

He recalled that when the incumbent government came into power, the national economy was on the brink of collapse due to “failed policies” of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

“But with collective wisdom and prudent strategy, the present government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif avoided a looming threat of default and took the country towards macroeconomic stability,” he said.

He highlighted the importance of political stability for achieving economic sustainability, citing instances from the past when unelected people ruled the country by sidelining elected governments.  "No progress and prosperity can be achieved without political stability and prompt dispensation of justice."

The PML-N lawmaker strongly condemned the May 9 vandalism of military installations and memorials of martyrs, demanding exemplary punishment for those found involved in the anti-state activities.

Aslam Bhootani said despite financial constraints, the government had taken due care of all segments of society, especially the government employees who got an “unexpected raise” in their salaries and pensions in the proposed budget. “It is a good, development and relief-oriented budget.”

Fazal Ali Shah Jillani of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said nature has bestowed Pakistan with great mineral resources and the government should exploit its full potential to make the country prosperous and self-reliant economically.

He expressed his appreciation for the government's efforts in providing relief to the salaried class. He put forth a suggestion for a 50 percent increase in salaries for government employees ranging from grade-1 to grade-16, and a 35 percent increase for employees in grade-17 to grade-22. He proposed these increases in light of the rising inflation.

Participating in the budget debate, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam’s (JUI-F) Salahuddin Ayubi criticized the PTI government's economic policies, attributing the increased inflation to its “poor fiscal decisions”.

Ayubi commended the government for presenting a balanced budget despite economic challenges. However, he expressed disappointment that Pakistan had not received a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) despite fulfilling the necessary requirements.

Ayubi strongly condemned the May 9 incident and demanded that those responsible be brought to justice. PPP's Umed Ali Shah lamented the lack of special allocations for the people affected by the recent floods in Sindh province.

Shah praised the prime minister for personally visiting the flood-affected areas and announcing special funds to aid in recovery efforts. He acknowledged the challenging situation resulting from the floods and emphasized the need for support.

PML-N’s Ajmal Khan described May 9 as a black day in the country's history. He called on the government to announce additional incentives and allocations for the agriculture sector.

Khan proposed converting tube wells to solar power as a means to save approximately 2,000 MW of electricity. He urged research institutions to prioritize the development of new high-yield seeds to increase agricultural productivity per acre.

PPP's Syed Hussain Tariq praised the coalition government for announcing what he considered the best budget despite facing numerous difficulties. Tariq acknowledged Pakistan's critical economic situation but expressed hope that the coalition government would overcome the crisis.