Everyone is talking about the budget which the government said to be public friendly. But this Awami budget didn’t give relief to the poor people. They imposed taxes on everything which are basic necessities like roti, kapra, makan and sugar, which may increase up to more than Rs 150/kg. This budget was presented in the assembly by party whose slogan is roti, kapra, makan. These are the things that have been taken back from the poor.
The total federal budget is about Rs 3.259 trillion but spending for education and health are only about two percent of the budget.
The total estimated net federal revenues to be collected are projected at Rs 1,529 billion. The projected final deficit is shown as Rs 975 billion. According to the Asian Development Bank’s economic survey of 2010-2011, in Pakistan 42 percent or 75 million Pakistanis are living below the poverty line. As poverty is directly related to the level of food inflation, with 10 percent food inflation, 2.2 percent of the population enters poverty every year. But our political parties are just watching and busy in corruption and show no concern.
WASIF SOHAIL
Lahore
