Pakistan

Budget favours the rich who support PML-N: Imran

PTI chief alleges the budget will make the poor poorer

Web Desk June 06, 2015

Criticising the new budget presented by the incumbent government, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan said the rich and powerful have been favoured.

“The budget presented by the PML-N has favoured the rich,” Imran alleged, while addressing the media on Saturday.

Claiming that the poor have been unnecessarily taxed, the PTI chief said, “The budget will make the poor poorer.”

“The government should tax those who can pay and not those who cannot pay,” he alleged.

Read: Budget 2015-16 is pro-poor with rich kept in mind: Dar

Further, Imran said the government is exempting those who can pay taxes or is not making efforts to retrieve taxes from them because these are the people who support the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

“We have given an alternate budget suggesting sales tax should be brought down to 12.5% from 17%,” he added.

Read: Budget 2015-16: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar unveils Rs4.451 tr budget

“If you look at western countries, their governments take money from the rich and spend it on welfare,” he said, adding that the same is not being done in Pakistan.

The PTI chief said there are several mini-budgets announced during the year after the main budget. Further, Imran claimed, "The government has not met any of its major targets."

Stressing on the importance of tax collection, Imran said that the FBR should be made more “autonomous” otherwise tax collection will be poor.

Further, the PTI chief suggested, “There should have been an increase of 15% in salaries of government officers instead of 7.5%.”

Regarding Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s budget, where his party is the ruling party, Imran said, “In K-P, we have kept the minimum wage at Rs15,000 instead of the Rs13,000 minimum wage suggested by the government.”

Earlier today, while explaining the salient features of the budget, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar refuted claims that the budget was for the rich.

“This is a pro-poor budget but we also have to keep the rich in mind,” the finance minister said.

COMMENTS (9)

Mare | 8 years ago | Reply He conviniently leaves out the FACT that PTI's budget would give Rs. 649 billion in cuts to the ultra wealthy by decrrasing corporate tax to 20%.

Haider | 8 years ago | Reply @Humza Ya Metro Bus...Islamabad metro is the world's most expensive metro in a country where person is a a debtor 1 lac...Thanks to Nawaz Govt.... Metro taking commissions in projects

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pervaiz | 8 years ago | Reply I bet here that IK did not see budget documents as he was not in Assembly yesterday and his copy was there in NA. and today he was busy in connection of NA-108 public meeting, so when he studied budget documents. This naughty person only speaks just to have point scoring and get live coverage at TV. He should first study budget then speak.

Saud | 8 years ago | Reply Sigh... Why would anyone bother commenting after all.. We're all here to bash Niazi or Sharif... I wasted a good Saturday morning reading through the piles of pages which were published somewhat under the guise of our country's budget... 3 pages in and the english language was contorted to such an amazing extent that making any meaning of the text would be possible... Like writing "Rigft" instead of left or right.. Brawo Mr. Dar... Brawo...

Ch. Allah Daad | 8 years ago | Reply Imran should get some information about budget before criticizing it. The basic needs of poor are not touched. However there is an increase of tax on many luxurious items which is concerning Imran. His rich sponsors will get a huge hit and to balance their books they will cut his expenses.

BookWorm | 8 years ago | Reply @Adnan Siddiqi: I have yet to see a bigger hater of IK than you on here! Aur koi kaam nahi hain kya? Stop being disrespectful by calling him a certain tribe's name!

Humza | 8 years ago | Reply Why not complain that Metro Bus Schemes are also to benefit rich people who prefer to take bus over their cars. Give it a rest Imran Khan ! PTI can only do dharna and complain but they can't do anything real. In most of the world the middle class carries burden of the taxes.

Proud Pakistani | 8 years ago | Reply This man has taken the oath, "I will speak the lie and nothing but lie" so what can he do.

Adnan Siddiqi | 8 years ago | Reply If Niazi has an iota of shame....let me rephrase that statement. If Niazi is even aware of the word "Shame," he would direct his party in both houses of the parliament to vote against this finance act.

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