Budget reaction: IHI demands people-friendly steps

Defence budget should be made available to people’s representatives for auditing, says IHI.

ISLAMABAD:

The Insani Haqooq Ittehad (IHI), a network of Islamabad-based human rights organisations, has demanded that the federal budget 2013-14 be made a “people’s budget,” in which the allocations are made in a more just and pro-people manner, according to an IHI press release issued on Friday.

The release stated that the country’s budgets have historically failed to meet basic needs such as food security, health, education and employment.

Pakistan is ranked 146th out of 187 countries in the Human Development Index, the country has the second highest mortality rate for children under five, the economic impact of neglecting sanitation costs is Rs343.7 billion annually and over 5.1 million primary school-age children are out of school.

The IHI said the defence budget should be made available to people’s representatives and for auditing. The military expenses should be reduced by 30 per cent.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2013.