ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Mushahidullah Khan on Friday said the federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year will add to the woes of common people, as Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq termed it an ‘International Monetary Fund-dictated budget’.
Resuming debate on finance bill in the Senate, Siraj claimed this budget was not prepared by elected representatives of the people of Pakistan.
He said the budget has nothing for common people, health and education sectors. He said the budget if approved, will increase poverty and crime in the society.
Senator Mushahidullah said there should be across the board accountability instead of victimization of political opponents. He said the budget has added to the difficulties of common people.
Senator Aurangzeb Khan said those, who plunged the country into debt trap should be punished. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan is not responsible for taking massive loans and ruining institutions, like Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Pakistan Steel Mills.
Rehman Malik urged the government to revisit the budget to control inflation and to provide relief to the poor. He said pays of the salaried class should be doubled. He called for a collective approach to boost the economy.
Tahir Bizinjo regretted reliance on foreign loans. He said Pakistan will have to achieve political and economic stability in order to attain a respectable place in the comity of nations.
He said dams should be constructed in Balochistan to overcome the shortage of water in the province.
Nuzhat Sadiq expressed concerns over 40 per cent reduction in the budget for higher education commission, thirteen per cent for Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. She said Foreign Direct Investment has decreased by 52 per cent due to the economic mismanagement of the government.
She suggested that the budget should be reviewed in consultation with the opposition.
The House now meet again on Monday at 4:30 p.m.
