Information minister denies doling out Rs500b to MNAs

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Monday rebutted the “false claims” of his former party colleagues about doling out Rs500 billion funds to the members of the National Assembly (MNAs) in the federal budget 2024-25.

“Neither have we allocated Rs500 billion nor has any intention in this regard. This is a wrong notion and sheer exaggeration,” he added.

The minister clarified that an amount of Rs1,500 billion was earmarked for the development schemes in the budget. “It is the right of every person to form a political party but nobody is allowed to spread misinformation and disinformation,” he remarked.

To a query about inflated electricity bills, he said the energy minister would address a news conference and brief the masses on the issue in detail.

The proposal for privatization of the electricity distribution companies was under consideration and new boards would be formed to make them profitable organizations, he said in response to another query.

He said the government had reduced petroleum prices upto Rs 35, but the international market had its own impact.

To another query, he said tax exemption was only given to the martyrs’ families and retired civil officers who served the country for their whole life.

The general election would only be held in 2029 upon completion of the constitutional tenure of the incumbent government, he said, adding the Parliament was an appropriate forum to do politics in the current circumstances.

“Solution to all the problems in politics lies in negotiations and dialogue,” the minister remarked.
To another query, he said the government’s austerity campaign was in full swing.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Quaid Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had always been magnanimous to Shahid Khaqan Abbassi and Miftah Ismail and dealt them with respect and dignity, he concluded.

The minister said he expected of his former colleagues Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Miftah Ismail to appreciate the decisions and initiatives taken by the government to reduce expenditures and inflation.

He asked the two whether they had reservation on the FBR’s digitization or reduction in inflation, the PIA’s privatization, increase in minimum wage or tax exemptions given on solar panels, text books, pensioners income, fertilizers, charitable hospitals and health equipment.

He said the prime minister had a vision to support middle class and tax the elites, and such measures should be appreciated and welcomed by the former colleagues who resorted to criticism unnecessarily.