Budget a jugglery of words, say senators
06 June, 2012
ISLAMABAD: Opposition and coalition legislators in the Upper House of Parliament on Tuesday termed the annual budget for 2012-13 a jugglery of words, having nothing to do with welfare of common man.
Senators from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) took part in the budget debate and termed it a total failure of the government while Gul Muhammad Lot of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) appreciated the budget.
PML-N Senator Muhammad Hamza said that the government had failed in all fronts. In the budget, he said there were more burdens on the poor section of society. The government is running through borrowing and printing more currency notes, he said, adding that foreign debts had been double in the last four years and reached $60 billion. The Punjab government has initiated two power generation schemes, but the federal government is creating problems, he said. Giving huge amount in hands of a single person (PM) was totally unjustifiable, he added.
He claimed the government also failed to stop US drone attacks and was totally dependent on foreign funding agencies, including the International Monetary Funds (IMF). "Beggars are never chooser," he said, adding that the government had also failed at international front. During the PPP government, he said both the economy and law and order situation are on wrong direction. He claimed that the PPP government never wants to make the country prosperous.
Senator Hamza also told the legislators that the apex court had convicted the prime minister and now he had clinched with the chair illegally. He also said that President Asif Ali Zardari was involved in corruption cases and had put the looted money in Swiss banks but the government did not obey the court's order.
Coalition partner, Senator Haseeb Khan from the MQM said the government did not consult his party for budget-making process that was why the MQM presented a shadow budget. He said the country was on the brink of collapse and termed the government budget a jugglery of words. According to his party's shadow budget, he made some suggestions to put the economy on right path.
He also suggested the government to increase direct taxes, which currently are 35 percent and decrease indirect taxes, which currently are 65 percent. He also demanded removal of petroleum levy, and termed it extortion from poor people of the country. He also asked the government to stop US interference in Pakistan's internal affairs, which will help in improving law and order situation in the country.
Taking part in the budget debate, JUI-F Senator Talha Mehmood said the budget was disappointing; there was nothing in it for the welfare of people. The government is responsible for all economic woes, which compelled the people to sell their children and now people have started selling their bodies also, he said, adding that unemployment is rising since the last four years.
End.
|
