Budget debate: Shaikh plays fiddle as opposition, allies censure govt
ANP, MQM suggest imposition of agriculture tax.
ISLAMABAD:
The finance minister played his fiddle while lawmakers from the opposition and treasury benches criticised the government and the budget during Wednesday’s debate in the National Assembly.
Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh wrapped up the debate on budget for fiscal 2012-13 amid vociferous protests by the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
The ruling party’s allies, however, also played the role of the opposition. Lawmakers from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Awami National Party (ANP) also criticised the government and its policies.
Swan song
The criticism, however, could not deter the finance minister who heaped praise on Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari for presenting the fifth budget under the incumbent government.
“The government has made history … and in its fifth budget, people have been given relief,” Shaikh said. “We have allocated Rs70 billion to the Benazir Income Support Programme for the uplift of the poor,” he added.
Praising the government’s four-year performance, Shaikh said the incumbents “have collected Rs400 billion in additional taxes and achieved this year’s target.” The provinces have been given an additional Rs800 billion during the last two years, he added.
The government spent Rs1.1 trillion during the last four years for electricity, Rs300 billion for development works during the last year and gave Rs50 billion in subsidy to the agriculture sector, he said.
He added that the Senate had given about 145 suggestions and assured the house that several of those would be incorporated into the budget.
Critique, suggestions
Earlier, Yousaf Talpur from the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party said that the agriculture sector had been neglected by the government. Recalling the prime minister’s commitment of writing off agri-loans for flood-hit areas, Talpur said the promise was never materialised.
Sajid Ahmed of the MQM said “the budget cannot be termed people-friendly.” He underlined the need for taxing the agriculture sector and called for legislation at the provincial level for the purpose.
While Bushra Gohar of the ANP felicitated the government, she censured it for bad governance, corruption and poor collection of taxes.
“We got a bureaucratic budget since it dose not include input from the parliamentary committees,” she said.
Gohar added that the government was lacking the political will to collect taxes, and suggested taxing the agriculture sector. She also suggested that defence budget should be slashed by 10 to 20%.
Maulvi Asmatullah, an independent lawmaker from Balochistan, asked how a budget with a 30% deficit be termed good. He said the people of Balochistan were not benefitting from the policies.
Debt servicing
Charged expenditure of Rs8.57 trillion, included in demands for grants and appropriations, were laid before the house.
According to the document, Rs84.5 billion has been allocated for servicing domestic debt and Rs7.3 trillion for repayment of domestic debt.
In addition, almost Rs80 billion has been allocated for servicing foreign debt and Rs216 billion for repayment of foreign loans.
Meanwhile, Rs 1.6 billion has been allocated for elections and Rs3.32 billion for Pakistan Railways.
The finance minister played his fiddle while lawmakers from the opposition and treasury benches criticised the government and the budget during Wednesday’s debate in the National Assembly.
Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh wrapped up the debate on budget for fiscal 2012-13 amid vociferous protests by the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
The ruling party’s allies, however, also played the role of the opposition. Lawmakers from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Awami National Party (ANP) also criticised the government and its policies.
Swan song
The criticism, however, could not deter the finance minister who heaped praise on Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari for presenting the fifth budget under the incumbent government.
“The government has made history … and in its fifth budget, people have been given relief,” Shaikh said. “We have allocated Rs70 billion to the Benazir Income Support Programme for the uplift of the poor,” he added.
Praising the government’s four-year performance, Shaikh said the incumbents “have collected Rs400 billion in additional taxes and achieved this year’s target.” The provinces have been given an additional Rs800 billion during the last two years, he added.
The government spent Rs1.1 trillion during the last four years for electricity, Rs300 billion for development works during the last year and gave Rs50 billion in subsidy to the agriculture sector, he said.
He added that the Senate had given about 145 suggestions and assured the house that several of those would be incorporated into the budget.
Critique, suggestions
Earlier, Yousaf Talpur from the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party said that the agriculture sector had been neglected by the government. Recalling the prime minister’s commitment of writing off agri-loans for flood-hit areas, Talpur said the promise was never materialised.
Sajid Ahmed of the MQM said “the budget cannot be termed people-friendly.” He underlined the need for taxing the agriculture sector and called for legislation at the provincial level for the purpose.
While Bushra Gohar of the ANP felicitated the government, she censured it for bad governance, corruption and poor collection of taxes.
“We got a bureaucratic budget since it dose not include input from the parliamentary committees,” she said.
Gohar added that the government was lacking the political will to collect taxes, and suggested taxing the agriculture sector. She also suggested that defence budget should be slashed by 10 to 20%.
Maulvi Asmatullah, an independent lawmaker from Balochistan, asked how a budget with a 30% deficit be termed good. He said the people of Balochistan were not benefitting from the policies.
Debt servicing
Charged expenditure of Rs8.57 trillion, included in demands for grants and appropriations, were laid before the house.
According to the document, Rs84.5 billion has been allocated for servicing domestic debt and Rs7.3 trillion for repayment of domestic debt.
In addition, almost Rs80 billion has been allocated for servicing foreign debt and Rs216 billion for repayment of foreign loans.
Meanwhile, Rs 1.6 billion has been allocated for elections and Rs3.32 billion for Pakistan Railways.