Budget session: Asad Umar to kick off budget debate for PTI
PTI leader confirms he’s been asked to give PML-N a tough time due to his economic expertise.
PTI leader confirms he’s been asked to give PML-N a tough time due to his economic expertise. PHOTO: ONLINE
ISLAMABAD:
Traditionally, political parties choose their respective parliamentary leaders to lead the budget debate in the National Assembly. However breaking away from tradition, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has decided to field MNA Asad Umar as it ‘opening batsman’.
Observers believe Umar, who is an expert in economic matters, has been fielded to give the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz a tough time in the budget session on Monday.
“Yes, I have been asked by my party to open the budget debate and bring facts and figure to disprove certain claims made by the finance minister,” he told The Express Tribune on Saturday.
According to Umar, the budget is heavily focused on the country’s rich and corporate class. As such, he said, his party believes it will further marginalise the poor and increase unemployment, inflation and social disparity.
Surprisingly, the government introduced measures to protect foreign companies – a move the PTI leader believes would have a negative impact on local companies and revenue collection. “Foreign companies have been allowed to pay only 20% tax while local companies will pay over 30%... it seems as if we’re living in the era of the East India Company again.”
Meanwhile, PTI sources said senior leaders have advised PTI Chairman Imran Khan to avoid talking to the media on every issue. Instead, they urged their chairman to entrust matters to his party’s senior leaders.
Sources said Imran has agreed to the suggestion and asked Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Javed Hashmi to represent him on political matters, Shireen Mazari on media matters, and Asad Umar on economic issues.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 8th, 2014.
Traditionally, political parties choose their respective parliamentary leaders to lead the budget debate in the National Assembly. However breaking away from tradition, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has decided to field MNA Asad Umar as it ‘opening batsman’.
Observers believe Umar, who is an expert in economic matters, has been fielded to give the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz a tough time in the budget session on Monday.
“Yes, I have been asked by my party to open the budget debate and bring facts and figure to disprove certain claims made by the finance minister,” he told The Express Tribune on Saturday.
According to Umar, the budget is heavily focused on the country’s rich and corporate class. As such, he said, his party believes it will further marginalise the poor and increase unemployment, inflation and social disparity.
Surprisingly, the government introduced measures to protect foreign companies – a move the PTI leader believes would have a negative impact on local companies and revenue collection. “Foreign companies have been allowed to pay only 20% tax while local companies will pay over 30%... it seems as if we’re living in the era of the East India Company again.”
Meanwhile, PTI sources said senior leaders have advised PTI Chairman Imran Khan to avoid talking to the media on every issue. Instead, they urged their chairman to entrust matters to his party’s senior leaders.
Sources said Imran has agreed to the suggestion and asked Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Javed Hashmi to represent him on political matters, Shireen Mazari on media matters, and Asad Umar on economic issues.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 8th, 2014.