Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday condemned the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) decision to pass the Finance Supplementary (Second Amendment) Bill in the National Assembly (NA) without any debate.
Bilawal took to Twitter to condemn the move. “[This will be a] true test for [NA] speaker. Will he act like a PTI worker and allow for the violation of NA rules or will he conduct his duties properly and maintain the dignity of his office and the house?” he questioned.
Heard PTI plans to bulldoze finance bill through the National Assembly without any debate. True test for Speaker, will he act like a PTI worker and allow for violation of NA rules or will he conduct his duties properly and maintain the dignity of his office and the house?
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) March 6, 2019
Announced by Finance Minister Asad Umar on January 23, the mini-budget is yet to be passed by the NA.
Moody’s in a report had said that the mini-budget supports exports but will increase fiscal consolidation challenges for the government.
According to the rating agency, there is a greater risk of fiscal slippage and slower fiscal consolidation in the dearth of further revenue-raising measures.
It noted that the mini-budget greatly concentrates on revenue-based measures to improve supply-side conditions for businesses and incentivize domestic reinvestment.
