The Sindh Assembly continued general discussion on the budget on Monday. At least 25 members belonging to the treasury and opposition benches took part in the debate.
Khairunisa Mughal of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) said the Sindh government is serving people and has improved the law and order. The federation is not giving due funds to Sindh province, she said.
Muhammad Sajid Jokhio of PPP said this is a people-friendly budget and will give much relief to the poor people of Sindh.
Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani of PPP opined that it is a balanced budget and efforts are taken to solve as many problems as possible. Problems of my area should also be resolved, he said.
Samar Ali Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said the government should restore the trust of people. “Corruption should be ended. The taxpayers’ money should be spent on people. The government money should not be for stuffing pockets of rulers,” he said.
Muhammad Dilawar Qureshi of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) alleged the budget speech of the finance minister as a pack of lies. Sindh is facing immense problems but the corrupt rulers are not resolving them, he added.
Waryam Faqeer of Pakistan Muslim League- Functional (PML-F) said the budget should be used properly. He said that corruption and waste of funds should be avoided. Water distribution should be made properly and problems of Sanghar should be resolved, he added.
Irum Khalid of PPP said we have given a people-friendly budget but the federal government is not releasing funds for Sindh province.
Muhammad Ismail Rahu of the Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) said the PPP has presented its ninth budget in a row but failed to address the basic problems of people. Every sector is backward, now people of Sindh are fed up of this type of politics, he said.
Mahfooz Yar Khan of MQM said it is just jugglery of words and figures and people are being befooled by the rulers. If the problems of people are not resolved, they will demand to make Karachi as a new administrative province, he said.
After the comments of Mahfooz, the treasury members protested strongly.
Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh of PML-F said corruption is everywhere. He said, “The infrastructure in Shikarpur, Larkana, Sukkur and other cities is in shambles. Shikarpur is being neglected because its voters elected PML-F. Give Shikarpur a university.” He demanded to complete the lingering drainage scheme of his town.
Rubina Saadat Qaimkhani of PPP said the government despite difficult conditions has given a balanced budget. We have achieved our tax collection target, she added.
Sabir Hussain of MQM said all the provincial government departments are teemed with corruption. “This is a false budget. Government even cannot run the education department and is seeking help from the NGOs. It is better to close the government department and give funds directly to people to resolve their issues,” he said.
Pir Mujeeb ul Haq of PPP said that Dadu district has been neglected in this budget and the lingering projects of Dadu should be completed before the coming general elections.
Qamar Abbas of MQM said the government should control corruption and funds should be spent for welfare of people. He said the problems of Karachi should be addressed.
Imdad Ali Pitafi of PPP charged that Mahfooz is a ‘Lota’. We shall not tolerate the division of Sindh province. On this, the MQM members strongly protested.
Waqar Hussain Shah of MQM said this budget has only destruction for Sindh. In last nine years, we have even failed to give our people drinking water, he said.
Syeda Shehla Raza of PPP said we have improved security and order. He said the budget would bring further improvement in the lives of people. The federal government is not giving due funds to Sindh, he added.
Saifuddin Khalid of MQM said that wrong figures are quoted in the budget to again mislead people. “There is not a single department that has shown good progress. New administrative provinces are inevitable in Pakistan. No one can stop them,” he said.
Ali Mardan Shah of PPP said we congratulate the chief minister and finance minister for presenting a tax-free budget. He said the distribution of irrigation water should be further improved and Thar should be given water through pipelines instead of RO plants.
Zia-ul-Hassan of PPP said that ample funds are earmarked for education, health and law and order. “Rs 10 billion are tagged for Karachi and we shall not tolerate the division of Sindh,” he said.
Nasir Hussain Shah of PPP said, “I pay rich tribute to the government on presenting people-friendly budget. Opposition should not talk about the division of Sindh as it is a touchy matter.”
Dost Muhammad Rahimoon of PPP said that our party has got mandate from Sindh because we have served the people of Sindh, adding that this government has brought a lot of development in Thar.
Sajeela Laghari of the PPP said that her party will resolve problems of people. “This is a good budget. As many as 50,000 new jobs would be given to youth,” she said.
Ghulam Shah Jeelani of the PPP said the tax free budget is meant for welfare of people. He said, “Gorakh Hill station should be developed in my constituency.” He said that approach road to the Gorakh should be improved as presently only four-wheel vehicles could travel to the Gorakh hill station.
Faqir Dad Khoso of the PPP said the opposition is busy in negative criticism. This is a tax free budget and many projects are given to my area, he said.
Later, the speaker adjourned the House till Wednesday, June 21 at 10am.
