NA discusses budget proposals
Maulana Sherani says Budget will have more impact on the consumers than the investors.
ISLAMABAD (Online): The National Assembly on Sunday paid tribute to the martyrs of Balochistan’s attacks, which occurred on Saturday (June 15).
The National Assembly resumed its session in Islamabad on Sunday with Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in the chair.
At the outset of the proceedings‚ the House offered Fateha for the departed souls of those martyred in terrorists attacks in Balochistan yesterday.
Speaking on a point of order‚ Asiya Nasir condemned the terrorist attack and firing incident in Balochistan and demanded that there is a dire need to take the Balochistan issue seriously. She said that the formulation of a policy for the province is imperative to resolve the issue.
Later‚ the House resumed debate on the budgetary proposals for the next financial year.
Initiating the debate‚ Maulana Muhammad Sherani said that the tax net and rate have been increased in the budget for the financial year 2013-14 that will directly affect the consumers.
He said the action will have more impact on the consumers than the investors.
He proposed that the budget must be formulated on Islamic principles avoiding loans with interest and depending on more domestic resources.
Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain said that the government is committed to improve the economy of the country and uplift living standard of the masses.
He said in the budget proposals the government has taken some difficult steps to improve the economic condition by cutting different funds of ministries and PM House.
He said the expenditures of the ministries have been reduced by thirty percent while that of Prime Minister House and Office by forty-four percent.
He said the former government used forty-seven billion rupees of discretionary fund which has been abolished in the next budget.
He said the amount saved will be utilized for different uplift programmes. He said the government has added an amount of twenty-five billion rupees in the Income Support Programme.
He said the system of the programme will be improved to serve the recipients in a better way.
He said the government has launched Housing Schemes for the low income segments besides training programmes for master degree holder youth during which they will be paid ten thousand rupees monthly.
Raja Aamer Zaman of PTI welcomed the government s initiatives like launching of Youth Uplift Schemes and said that the base of these schemes must be broadened.
He said ten percent increase in the salaries of the government employees is worth appreciation but he proposed that the increase should be fifteen to twenty percent.
He said that the tax has been imposed on the Hajj tour operators. He said that this tax must be abolished because it will be indirectly collected from the intending pilgrims.
Akram Khan Durrani of JUI-F lauded different steps taken by the government for the betterment of the masses.
He said it is a good omen that government has abolished the secret funds but he demanded that the secret funds of Political Agents of the tribal areas must also be abolished because a huge amount is being used in this regard and reduces the development activities in the area.
He said also proposed that the salaries of the government employees be further increased five to ten percent.
Amir Haider Khan Hoti of ANP appreciated the steps taken by the government including formation National Party government in Balochistan and PTI in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
He said decision to end circular debts in sixty days is also worth admiration but he said there is dire need to end the factors that lead to circular debts.
He said the factor including tariff different‚ line losses‚ power theft and recovery of the bills need immediate attention to control the circular debts otherwise these debts will continue to rebuild in future and the issue will remain unresolved.
