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.
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.
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 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. Gohar suggested that defence budget should be slashed by 10 to 20%.
Maulvi Asmatullah from Balochistan asked how a budget with a 30% deficit be termed good.
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, Rs7.3 trillion for repayment of domestic debt, almost Rs80 billion 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.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 14th, 2012.
s tog� cH�o � ~ ing the matter pertained to his client and Arsalan alone. “Therefore, this matter could not be taken up in the suo motu jurisdiction,” he had said.
Anwar said the court has not mentioned two important factors — question of fundamental rights and public interest. The court might reply to the objection when it delivers the order on Thursday (today), he said.
Kazim said that the objection raised by Riaz’s counsel lacked substance because an effort had been made to debase an institution, which had been waging a “war against corruption in the best public interest.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 14th, 2012.
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