Blaming the federal government for its covert attempts to take the provinces’ constitutional right over the collection of general sales tax on services, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah Friday appealed to the MQM leadership not to call for strikes that cost the ailing economy at least Rs 15 billion a day.
The appeal was made by the leader of the house in Sindh Assembly in his speech winding up the week-long general discussion on Budget 2013-14.
The chief minister said: “I, through the MQM, appeal to Altaf Hussain to refrain from giving the strike calls that hurt the already troubled economy.”
The chief minister said according to a rough estimate a day of strike costs the economy at least Rs 15 billion.
He said the MQM lawmakers who wanted the provincial budget deficit be reduced through various cuts in budgetary expenditures should also take this fact into account that the frequenting strikes and the resultant closure of businesses in this financial capital of the province were taking a heavier toll on the economic activity in the province.
Shah also was critical of the center where the federal bureaucracy was using different excuses to deprive the provinces of the benefits they were to get constitutionally under the NFC Award. He claimed the federal government was trying to take the provinces’ right to collect GST on services. He said the imposition of federal excise duty would adversely impact Sindh’s Rs 42 billion GST on services collection target and was tantamount to “sabotage” the NFC Award.
The chief minister dubbed the proposed duty as against the provincial autonomy. He went on to say that the provinces had though got provincial autonomy through the 18th Amendment, but were still lacking administrative autonomy as the centre was in authority to install high profile officials like the chief secretary, IG police, DG Rangers etc.
About the law and order, Shah said political elements should join hands to curtail the menace for which Rs 48 billion had been earmarked.
Deadly attack on Justice Baqir, he said, was despite the heavy security provided to the judge. The demise of law enforcers was reflective of the adequate security given to the judge.
He said if the chief justice of Pakistan ordered, his government was ready to provide the judges with bullet proof vehicles. The ministers also were under threat, he aadded.
“We would soon be calling an all parties conference on law and order issue,” he declared, adding a core commander and the US consulate had also come under attack in the past. It is not something new that we are experiencing,” he maintained.
In an apparent reference to what Dr Sagheer of the MQM had said on Thursday, the chief minister said none of the MQM workers had been arrested currently that made the MQM lawmaker feel political victimisation.
All arrested were hardened criminals that, he hoped, the MQM would never like to own as its workers. “No one should own criminals,” Shah vowed an across-the-board action against criminal elements irrespective of their political affiliations. He also took on the MQM, which had been administering the city government in Karachi, saying no audit was ever carried out of the city government’s expenditures. Nor, he said, his government had ever ascertained the number of employees inducted therein.
He also announced Rs 500 million funds for the KMC to pay the long-delayed salaries to the corporation’s agitating employees.
“You then are displeased with us,” the chief minister addressed the MQM legislators sitting on opposition benches.
About Dr Sagheer’s concern over the holding of local government election, he said a consensus decision would be taken to decide the fate of controversial issue.
Shah also announced to increase minimum wages to Rs 10,000. The move, he said, would support the working class of the province. Earlier, Leader of Opposition Faisal Sabzwari of the MQM called upon the government to legislate on de-deweaponising of the society to help stabilise the province against growing terrorism.
He also wanted the government to begin a clampdown on terrorists to uproot their dens in the city and restore durable peace. He said the government should impose tax on agriculture income which should be equivalent to the levy which salaried class pays to the government.
However, he showed reservation on increased property tax in budget saying the government should abolish the sudden and high tax.
Sabzwari also wanted that the government should expand its political reconciliation to opposition as well, saying the policy should not remain confined to the parties in the government.
He assured the house the MQM would support all positive steps it taken to eliminate terrorism and crimes from the city. He appealed to the government to help boost the education system of the province and bring it out of the persistent academic degeneration.
The opposition leader said the government should ensure appointment of competent officers in education sector and urged it to spend all funds earmarked for the development schemes. He said steps needed to ensure utilisation of the budgetary funds for uplift projects to take place.
Extortionism plagued the Karachi and subsequently the entire province economy, he said, adding the government still needs to clamp down on outlaws indiscriminately.
He said the government should also review the MPAs funds for inclusion in the budget.