NA continues debate on budget

National Assembly resumed debate on budget proposals for the fiscal year 2012-13 here on Friday.
Participating in the debate‚ Syed Zafar Ali Shah said the government should take corrective measures to address the challenges including those of the electricity crisis. He said that gas should be supplied to the power plants instead of fertilizer companies to cope with the electricity shortfall.
He said free and fair elections should be ensured for the flourishment of democracy and stability and progress of the county. He said that new provinces should be carved out with consensus and according to the Constitution.
Abdul Rashid Godil demanded the abolishment of petroleum levy saying reduction in the prices of petroleum products will help generate economic activities in the country. He suggested the government to enhance direct taxes and bring the affluent class into the tax net to increase its revenues.
He said the alternative sources of energy including solar and windmill should be exploited to cope with energy crisis. The issue of circular debt should be resolved immediately to improve the situation, he said.
He said a parliamentary committee should be constituted to ensure transparent disbursement of assistance under the Benazir Income Support Programme.
Parvez Khan Advocate said the present government deserves appreciation for presenting an historic and unprecedented fifth budget. He‚ however‚ said there is no justification for allocating money in the federal budget for the ministries devolved to the provinces. He said there is also no justification for creation of new ministries at the federal level after the passage of 18th amendment.
Rising on a point of order‚ Hamid Saeed Kazmi said there are no evidences against him in the Hajj corruption case but still he has been kept into prison over the last one and half year.
He said during hearing of the suo moto case the Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary had asked him to relinquish the job for a free and transparent investigation into the Hajj scam. Now the son of the Chief Justice has been implicated in a corruption case and he will also give the same advice to Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary to step down for an impartial and transparent investigation against his son.