The government has not sought loans from IMF and is instead using diplomatic channels for release of $80 billion that NATO forces owe to the country for its contribution to the international war against terrorism.
Taj Haider, Secretary General, Pakistan Peoples Party – Sindh, told participants of a session on “Role of Women Legislators in Budget Making Process,” organized by legislative watch group of Aurat Foundation on Thursday.
The senior PPP leader said NATO has paid to Pakistan only US $ 17 billion during the past two years and a major share, of the mutually agreed upon sum as compensation for the loss suffered by Pakistan, the frontline state’s infrastructure is yet to be paid. He on the occasion also announced that the Sindh budget for fiscal year 2012 and 2013 will be a surplus budget contrary to 2010 – 2011 when the province had a 25 billion deficit budget, in face of natural disasters that led to an extra expenditure of Rs. 20 billion per year, since 2009.
“Since the provincial government has been intimated in January this year that the province is feared to be hit by heavy monsoons coupled with massive floods therefore all precautionary measures have already been taken to avert devastation and losses experienced previously,” said Taj Haider. Claiming that the government was well prepared to handle situation he said Sindh’s budget for 2012-2013 will also be a surplus budget, with major focus on development issues.
Secretary General for PPP – Sindh said the province was rich in natural resources including gas and coal and the government is in process to complete Thar power plant, Keti Bunder power plant, coal gasification plant besides entering into agreements with China for wind and solar power generation schemes.
Taking exception to allegation of decline in national GDP rates during the past four years, the PPP leader activist said that during current fiscal year the tax collection rate has increased by 28% while against the set exports target of $ 20 billion country has also managed to achieve a target of $ 25 billion.
“Our per acre yield has also improved and during next fiscal year Sindh government plans to establish 100 farms, each of 10 acres for landless peasants,” he said.
The senior PPP leader said that despite a major producer of gas that is required for its domestic as well as industrial sector Sindh has made major sacrifice to ease the needs of more thickly populated province. The administration of the province, however, needs to take measures to counter extravagant use of CNG by owners of expensive vehicles that leads to consumption of gas, in only two of its big cities, equivalent to total production of Qadirpur gas field, the Secretary General said.
Taj Haider mentioned that Article 151 of the country’s constitution authorizes Sindh to use gas produced in the Sindh for its industrial sector, including fertilizer plants, yet in view of needs of all countrymen, these plants are kept closed for 140 days due to non availability of gas.
Similarly, he said Sindh can produce electricity at half of the cost it is presently available and for the purpose work on five new gas fields is underway.
“ In case the gas is more than our need and is shared with other provinces then also Sindh can seek its share under the head of ownership right and this again has been guaranteed under article 158 of the constitution,” said Taj Haider.
As for budgetary allocation for well being of girls and womenfolk, he said under the forthcoming budget special allocations will be made for girls hostels and teachers’ residential quarters in all government girls schools in the province.
We will also provide stipends to the girls students with equal attention towards their improve nutritional status,said Taj Haider.
Sindh government also plans to establish midwifery schools in all the districts besides expanding the network of nursing schools for men and women.
Lady health workers are also to be regularized soon and this will be supplemented by easy loans for homes based workers and allotment of 60 yards houses to women workers. Earlier, senior economist Dr. Shahid Hussain Siddiqui said the country urgently needed a revolutionary budget with foolproof mechanism to expand its taxation network.
Feudals, investors in stock exchange business and all those sacred cows presently enjoying immunity from paying taxes must be brought into the net without any impunity, he said. Dr. Shahid Hussain also suggested that Benazir Income Support Program must be utilized for paying the collateral needed by people running small businesses.
“A certain amount must be decided and bank managers failing to disburse this amount among small scale entrepreneurs must be duly penalized,” he suggested and also sought expansion in the number of branches set for assistance of women and marginalized sections.
