NA proceedings: Opposition MPs to open budget debate today

Khursheed Shah says he will support the budget if the govt accepts their suggestion.

ISLAMABAD:

The opposition is set to open a discussion on the proposed budget for fiscal year 2013-14 today (Saturday) but they might not be able to influence major changes in it.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah will start the discussion on the proposed budget which is already under intense fire from economic experts for its tax regime.

“We will support the proposed budget if the government accepts our suggestions and incorporates them,” Shah told media persons on Friday.

He said he will seek support from all the political parties sitting on the opposition benches and will resist the government’s move which go against the interest of the people.

However, the opposition would support the treasury benches.

In today’s National Assembly session, Khursheed Shah would have the first turn to debate over the budget. Beside critiquing the increment in the sales tax, the leader of the opposition would take up the issue of the collections of new taxes without the parliament’s approval.

Shah indicated that his party would criticize the hike in petroleum prices in the upcoming discussion on budget. He questioned why the incumbent Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was silent about the issue.

“In our time, he [Nisar] was the most vocal against petroleum price hike,” Shah said.

After Pakistan Peoples Party, all other parliamentary leaders would give their feedback over the issue.

“The entire debate would be concluded within 10-12 days before the budget is approved,” said Deputy Secretary Legislation National Assembly Muhammad Mushtaq. It is not binding on the government to incorporate any changes or improvements suggested by the opposition in the budget document.

“It is entirely up to the government to accept any changes suggested,” said Mushtaq.

Incumbent opposition parties like their predecessors would also criticise the proposed budget’s policies but they would not be able to effect any real changes in what has already been proposed unless the government itself shows willingness to make some.

“The opposition does not have numbers,” he said, adding that the new budget would be approved before the end of this month.

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