Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. PHOTO: AFP/ FILE
After opposition concluded its onslaught on proposed budget for the next fiscal year Thursday, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar was all set to wind up budget debate with his speech in National Assembly on Friday (today).
During the six-day debate, opposition parties thoroughly criticised the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government’s proposed budget.
The government came under fire particularly for its income tax proposals besides increase in general sales tax (GST) rate, waiver of customs duty on hybrid cars, taxing educational institutions and removal of Benazir Bhutto’s name from income support programme.
Members from across the divide put forward suggestions to the government, however, it was up to the finance minister to incorporate or reject them altogether. The treasury benches assured the opposition their valuable advice would be listened to and given weight.
“I assure you that all valuable suggestions from the opposition are being noted down and the government will adopt the workable ones,” Law Minister Zahid Hamid told the House on Wednesday.
After the recent meeting with IMF delegation, the government was not likely to take back 1% increase in GST rate. Likewise, no major changes were expected in the original budget proposal.
Budget Demands and Grants would be presented before the House for debate and discussion on Saturday following the finance minister’s winding up speech. The Parliament was likely to approve the budget on 28th of this month after considering the Senate’s suggestions.
Number power
Having the required numbers, the PML-N government will have no difficulty getting the budget approved despite opposition’s uproar on certain allocations.
Members were given time to discuss budget on Thursday again, but very few of them came up with constructive criticism. Most of them resorted to conventional government bashing while others took the opportunity to just register their presence and did political point scoring.
ISI in budget debate
Ejazul Haq, chief of his one-man party PML-Zia, for instance, asked lawmakers and media men to refrain from ‘unnecessarily’ blaming Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and military establishment for country’s wrong. “It was like working on the agenda of the enemies of the country. Our agencies are patriotic and they are working in Pakistan’s interest,” said Haq.
He questioned such members as to why they were not criticising the activities of CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) of India and Israel’s Mossad particularly involved in Afghanistan. “It is unfair to doubt that this was our war after so many sacrifices by our security forces,” said the PML-Z chief.
Slates or laptops
Javed Hashmi of PTI while speaking on budget took finance minister Dar to task. He said the finance minister with the proposed budget has ruined his party’s beginning in government. “Dar has taken PML-N to the point where it took PPP five years to reach,” said Hashmi.
Dr. Nafisa Shah of PPP said that budget was not pro-poor as the rulers miscalculated the needs of the people. “In a country where children are deprived of slates, the rulers are distributing laptops,” said Shah.
PPP’s Mehreen Razzaq criticised the government for removing former premier Benazir Bhutto’s name from Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).
Dr. Ramesh Kumar drew the house’s attention to the issue of Hindus’ migration from certain areas of Sindh and Balochistan and demanded that government take notice besides taking steps to mend the problem.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2013.
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In imposing the ‘LUXURY TAX on self occupied houses in the Punjab budget, the owner of the Raiwind estate, Mr. Shahbaz Sharif probably didn’t realize that most of the residences were old family homes which the owners were maintaining with considerable cost and effort. This Tax is a cruelty of the worst kind inflicted on the ‘Safaid Posh’ people of the Punjab. I request the honorable and kind Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of this open act of cruelty against human rights where people, on account of this burden, may be forced into selling their property and hence be deprived of a secure roof above their heads.
I must appreciate how Ishaq Dar has been absorbing the abnormal pressure from media and opposition. While PTI leaders claim to have tax increase unnecessary. They themselves haven't implemented a single tax promised in their manifesto. Except Punjab, no other provincial government has shown the will to generate tax revenues domestically. Unless this will is not there, provinces will always be dependent upon the center for their finances pushing center for more revenue generation through taxation. Why don't Sindh,KPK,Punjab and Baluchistan assure Mr.Dar that they will generate the shortfall themselves so he may withdraw the increase in GST. But that would never happen. Shallow well-wishers of the "aam aadmi"!
Was the budget debated as it should have been in assambly