The budget, which falls on the same date each year, has never been a harbinger of hope or relief, especially not for the common man.
It is in fact an ordeal, where people in visible tension, wait for the worst to be announced, and then only sigh with relief because it is finally over, not because it has managed to alleviate their pain or misery. In what has become a game of dirty pool, where words are twisted, and not all the figures are quoted, it is the masses which are victims of foul play who are sometimes told bluntly enough that no subsidies would be given, while petrol and other prices would be raised mercilessly, while in times like this year, subsidies and pay raises have been mentioned as if they would really make a difference after the indirect taxes are levied upon goods and products.
Once again, defence is to have the largest budget, while the education budget has been divided into giving some to the Higher Education Commission. But not all the raise in salaries or the help with subsidies could end up in helping out if the taxes nullify this. And some of the most affected people are homemakers – women who stay at home looking after household duties and chores and children.
“Hardly any budget has ever given consideration to the common man,” says Shazia, 38, a mother of two. “We are living hand to mouth and then this new wave of rising prices comes every year.” “All the year round prices continue to rise especially with respect to fuel price,” says Majida, 47. “But the budget, you can say, is an ‘official’ rise in prices, where no one can say anything to the government because it has already been decided.”
The new taxes, increase in existing taxes, duties and surcharges, rise in gas and petrol prices, will also result in a hike in utilities and essential kitchen items, a benchmark which are key features of successful budgets. But a jagged rise in inflation and further decline in the purchasing power of the people have made people all the more frustrated.
Received with annoyance, anger, anxiety and hopelessness by many, the budget remains as unsuccessful as ever.
“It’s a ploy to please the fat upper class,” says Ameena, 50, whose husband has died and she strives to juggle the housework and do some stitching to make money. “Only their lives become better or remain indifferent, but people like us, they end up killing themselves.”
But some women do not want to give it that much though. “We have enough on our minds to start to worry about this now,” says Mrs Hadi. “That does not mean we are ignorant but it’s useless to think and to cause yourself major stress when you know you cannot do anything about it.” “The budget is a more drastic increase in prices, which happens the whole year round, so I don’t really get surprised the way people usually do,” says another.
“Perhaps it would be somewhat better if they just give us relief in at least one sphere of life. Maybe lessen the cost of education so that my children can study,” despairs one woman, who says income is not much. “What I really would like to see is someone from the bureaucracy develop a monthly budget from Rs 7000, which is the minimum pay for a labourer set by the government itself,” says Yasmin. “This does not even necessarily mean they get it, but I still want to know how they will make our budget for us.”
Today it is hard to believe that at one time, Ayub Khan’s government was toppled over, because the price of sugar had been raised by 50 paisa per kilogram. Perhaps it is the fault of the masses themselves who tolerate this cruelty upon themselves. But discriminate policies and poverty has broken them down so much that they are too weak to fight back. “What’s the point of laying your life down to attempt for any kind of change to come,” laments one woman. “Haven’t enough people drowned their children, or committed suicide for the government to realize the misery? No,” she adds, hopelessly. “We can never over power their decisions.”
