News
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
Senators debate ‘shortcomings’ in new budget* Wasim Sajjad says budget lacks ‘sensible vision’ for education, health, water sectors
* Says fresh price-hike wave will hit people after imposition of VATBy Zeeshan Javaid
ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Tuesday started debate on a motion moved by Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh to make recommendations to the National Assembly on the Finance Bill 2010-11.
Initiating the debate, opposition leader in the House, Wasim Sajjad, said the new budget does not contain a “sensible vision” for vital sectors such as education, health and water. “The country has been adversely affected due to the power crisis and instead of providing loans to WAPDA to overcome its financial woes, the government is giving preference to rental power plants,” he added.
He stressed the need to build more dams to meet the water shortage and overcome the energy crisis. Wasim pointed out that there is a Rs 685 billion deficit in the budget but the document does not indicate how the government plans to mobilise additional resources.
Price hike: He was of the view that after the imposition of VAT from October, a fresh price-hike wave would hit the people. He proposed a reduction in expenditures, revival of the industry and initiation of steps to take the country out of the IMF’s clutches. Ishaq Dar appreciated the government’s social safety proposals in the budget and a 10 percent cut in salaries of cabinet members. Criticising the government’s policies, he said there is a lack of a clear development strategy and roadmap to take the country forward.
He said inflation had eroded the people’s purchasing power to around 22 percent in the last three years. However, MQM senators walked out in protest against a Rs 1.77 per unit increase in the KESC’s tariff.
Tahir Mashaddi said the people of Karachi were already facing the worst load shedding, hence the increased tariff is injustice to the citizens. He demanded the House immediately withdraw the price hike and walked out in protest with his fellow party members. They later returned after Interior Minister Rehman Malik assured them of revising the tariff. Haroon Akhtar warned that the country could not survive with dictation and the conditions imposed by the International Monetary Fund. “Now it’s time to stand up on our own feet,” he added.
Meanwhile, senators from FATA also walked out in protest against the funds allocated for the Tribal Area’s development in the recently-announced budget. Abbas Khan regretted that the government had allocated limited funds for the region’s development, while it has rendered huge sacrifices in the war on terror. Criticising the 28.9 percent increase in the defence budget, Senator Hasil Bizenjo regretted corruption in the Pakistan Army, demanding the defence budget be reduced.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk