The people speak: Simple folk with not-so-simple desires

K-P residents share their qualms regarding today’s ‘pro-poor’ budget .

ABBOTTABAD/PESHAWAR:

When residents of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) were asked to give their take on the provincial budget being unveiled today, they stated in near-unison that the government will try to sell the document as ‘pro-people’ yet it will be far from it.

Moreover, a common underlying theme emerged in the public’s response to what they expect from this year’s budget: fewer taxes and lower rates for essentials such as fuel and electricity.

Businessmen and traders said they have little or no hope for this fiscal year’s budget as the government continues to rely on indirect taxation and take its cue from international donor agencies rather than the needs of people working on the ground. They fear an increase in commercial electricity rates and claim it will directly raise prices of products in the market, thereby bringing more despair for the general public.

A private schoolteacher from Hazara dreams of a 20% increase in salaries, easy loan schemes for building houses and ease in purchasing motorcycles for the salaried class. He feared taxes on real estate and cooking oil will hit the middle income class the worst and lamented that no mega project for Hazara was announced by the federal government even though Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz won six of seven National Assembly seats from the region.

As expected, pensioners residing across the province are wishing for a 30% increase in their pensions. They fear that new taxes would increase the price of essential items making it all the more difficult for elderly pensioners.

Daily wagers expect the government to increase minimum wage to Rs18,000 and announce residential facilities and interest-free small loans for daily wagers and industrial workers. However, they fear that history will repeat itself and only the capitalists and well-off people will benefit from this year’s budget as well.

For the average housewife, the best relief can come in the guise of reduction in prices of daily use items. The worst budget would entail an increase in taxes and rates of electricity, gas and fuel.

From the perspective of the working class, an ideal budget should have lower electricity rates, less taxes on import of machinery, incentives for small power producers, substantial salary increase, residential schemes, free healthcare, elderly homes, easy loans and a sizable increase in the minimum wage.

During a recent interaction with businessmen at the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Minister for Finance Sirajul Haq revealed that allocations for the Annual Development Programme have been increased to Rs139 billion. He also stated that the budget would provide maximum relief to the poor segments of society.

Waheedullah, retired government servant

The budget should be consumer friendly and more funds should be allocated on modernising the provincial infrastructure, energy sector, health and education. The middle and lower middle class comes under severe pressure due to new taxes. Instead, the government should increase the tax base and bring the rich in its fold instead of burdening the already lumbering common man

Abdur Rahman, government servant, 28

I expect that salaries will be increased with accordance to the increase in the rate of inflation. However, keeping in mind the previous year’s budget, I do not expect any solid benefits from it this year as it seems it will just be a good budget on paper

Muhammad Ashfaq, agriculturist, 36

Agriculture is a major part of the country’s economy and employs thousands of people but it is continuously ignored in the budget. We need more allocations for subsidised seeds, pesticides, fertilisers and tube-wells, among other essential but expensive needs of farmers

Muhammad Imran, research student

An increase in the education and health budgets is necessary to overcome the low literacy rate and have better healthcare. Our budget is never more than a political statement and does not help the public in meeting their daily needs in the income they make

Muhammad Umar, businessman, 48

It is seems like an annual formality which the government undertakes. Nothing special has been done for the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in the last year and I hope the practice is not repeated this year

Sajid Khan, unemployed, 32

Ideally I want the government to create more jobs, attract direct foreign investment and level taxes on those who do not pay their due share to the government. The last budget was by no way an ideal one for the consumer class and the industry as it was prepared by the bureaucracy instead of the elected government.I hope this year’s budget is public oriented

Tauseef Ahmad, civil engineer, 40

K-P must devise a transparency mechanism in the usage of funds allocated in the budget and keep an eye on funds lapsing. Every year, allocations are made but due lack of transparency and mismanagement, all ongoing development plans are lying incomplete

Inamullah Khan, social worker 

There should be a maximum increase in funds for the Annual Development Programme (ADP) and a strategy needs to be devised to implement them as well as avoid a lapse. Once again I fear there will be an increase in the salaries and perks of ministers, MPAs and secretaries and that too will be used from the ADP

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2014.