Senate proceedings: PML-N comes under fire over farm tax

Bilour suggests cars above 1000cc should be disallowed to use CNG.

ISLAMABAD:

The Upper House on Monday resumed the budget debate and lawmakers addressed their individual issues, including the energy crisis, agriculture tax and respite for the poor.

Saeedul Hassan Mandokhail criticised Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz’s senator Ishaq Dar’s suggestion for imposing an agriculture tax. Mandokhail questioned why Dar was commenting on the issue when the PML-N did not implement the same when the party was in power. He added that the Benazir Income Support Programme has produced a whole generation of beggars and funds for BISP should be used for development projects and creation of jobs instead.

Ilyas Bilour of the Awami National Party demanded that Malik Riaz’s ‘good work’ should also be considered as he had provided homes to the homeless during floods in 2010 and 2012.  Bilour gave multiple suggestions including a tax for high-end luxury cars and not allowing cars over 1,000cc to consume CNG. He added that the Nato supply issue should be resolved soon as it is isolating Pakistan in the international community.

Kamil Ali Agha of PML-Quaid said the government is deliberately not resolving the energy crisis.

Tahir Mashhadi of the MQM said that the recently presented federal budget gives no relief to the poor and middle class at all due to discrimination.

The house will meet again on Tuesday evening.

Published In The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2012.