Budget debate: Lawmakers decry lack of safe water supply

Call for broadening tax net, subsidy for farmers and focus on budget utilisation

LAHORE:

For the first time in the on-going debate on the budget in the Punjab Assembly, some members of the Treasury joined the Opposition in criticising the government and offering suggestions. 

Thursday’s session was chaired by Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal and went on for five hours. The session was dominated by scathing criticism of the budget by the Opposition. Areas of discussion included taxation, social sector development in south Punjab and subsidies for farmers.

Sheikh Alauddin of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz called for widening the tax net to include the wealthy – especially doctors, private hospitals and laboratories. He expressed concern over the state of Rescue-1122 saying that it had recently added China-manufactured ambulances to its fleet in violation of a Lahore High Court ruling.

Commenting on mobile health units, Alauddin said the cost of a unit was Rs15 million, yet the government was receiving bids as high Rs60 million per unit.

“Despite government promises to provide safe drinking water, as many as seven million people in the Punjab are suffering from hepatitis,” he said.

Other lawmakers suggested subsidy on solar tube-wells, increasing the budget for irrigation, setting up quality educational centres along the lines of Danish Schools in other districts of the Punjab, and providing scooties to students.

Makhdum Hashim Jawan Bakht of the PML-N called for greater focus on utilisation of the budget. He also stressed the need to set up a sub-secretariat in Multan to ensure better administration.

Asif Bajwa, an MPA from Sialkot, asked the finance minister about the criteria used to decide allocations under the Annual Development Programme. “Over the past three years, none of the development schemes I have proposed for Daska have made it to the ADP,” he complained.

Shoukat Laleka from the Treasury asked why agriculture had not been given the status of an industry. He criticised the government for not ensuring availability of safe drinking water and lack of focus on developing agriculture. “If the government focused on the agriculture sector, there could be a revolution in the sector within a year.”

Dr Murad Raas also stressed the need for setting up more water filtration plants in Lahore. He also raised concerns over insufficient graveyards, an inefficient sewerage system, gas load shedding during summer and lack of resources for police to ensure law and order.

Khurram Shahzad from Faisalabad demanded 20 per cent raise in salaries of government employees. He also decried shortage of safe drinking water in Faisalabad.

Dr Nausheen Hamid of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf criticised the government for failing to ensure utilisation of funds. She called for setting up a finance commission, broadening the tax net and reducing indirect taxes.

“Why is the government so insecure that it has stopped several projects initiated during Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s tenure as chief minister?” Khadija Umar of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid said. As she continued criticising the government as a one-man show, shouts of “shame shame” were heard from the Treasury benches.

Umar demanded that the CM defend the Bahawalpur Solar Project in the House.

Ehsan Riaz Fatayana spoke about taxation and a decrease in allocation for local governments. “We are finally gearing to devolve power to the local government this year, yet the government has decided to slash their budget.” Fatyana said indirect taxes had been doubled this year while tax targets had been reduced by Rs4 billion.

Taufeeq Butt from Gujranwala criticised the police saying that despite an increase in allocation, they had failed to deliver. “Billions were allocated for the police in the last fiscal year, yet we hear people complaining about thanedars demanding bribes,” he said.

The debate will continue on Friday.

On Zardari’s remarks

Later addressing media people in the courtyard, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said the Pakistan Peoples Party had not supported the PML-N, but had shown respect for the Constitution during the PTI’s dharna.

The PPP chose to stand with the political set up and if a similar situation arose, the PML-N would do the same, he said.

Commenting on reports that a meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Zardari had been called off, Sanaullah said maybe it was a good thing. “Otherwise it could give the impression that the political and military leadership were not on the same page.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2015.