Opposition in the Senate, Thursday, pressed the government to check smuggling of goods back inside Pakistan after being imported in the name of Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA). While, lawmakers from treasury benches sought more incentives for agricultural sector as well as for overseas Pakistani community for making precious contribution of $ 13 billions to the national economy. While taking part in the debate on fiscal budget for the year 2012-13 on the fourth consecutive day in the proceeding of the Upper House of the Parliament, PML-N Senator Nisar Muhammad said that items being imported in the name of ATTA were being smuggled back in Pakistan causing loss of millions of rupees to the national economy.
He suggested that import of items which was permitted under ATTA should also be allowed to Pakistan to generate more revenue for the national exchequer. He also declared corruption as the worst menace hitting Pakistani economy badly saying that Rs 2726 had been wasted in corruption in last three years and it was 18% of the national economy. Nisar also blamed Members of the Parliament from treasury benches for making piles of money through corruption saying that volumes of their assets had increased by many times in last four years. He also questioned the transparent mechanism for recruitment of 1, 30,000 youth as internship which was announced in the federal budget. While making reference towards outstanding electricity bill of Rs 1, 670, 000,0 a minister, he said that the minister had been allowed to pay hefty amount installments of Rs 3300 per month and recovery would be completed in 1944 years.
He also alleged the government for selling Dargai Hydle Power Generation Plant to a blue eyed personality at cheaper rate of Rs 432, 000, 00. He pointed out that prices of edible items had soured up by 320% in last four years and it was all due to flawed fiscal policies of the government.
Syed Muzafar Hussain Shah.- PML-F while speaking on budget, said that agricultural sector which was savior of national economy had badly been ignored in the fiscal budget that was why per acre yield of agricultural products in Pakistan was the lowest in Asia and South Asia.
He proposed that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) should be directed to increase credit volume for agriculturists as well as prices of farming tools; fertilizers, tube wells, tractors and others should be regulated or subsidized. “Members of the Parliament should also be included in SBP’s Committee on Credit for farmers” he proposed saying that tillers should also be allowed to grow BT Cotton which was banned in the country despite the reason that more than 95% farmers in Sindh and Punjab used to grow that same brand.
He asked the Finance Minister to write off interest on agricultural loans as well as suspension of recovery for one year from farmers of calamity hit areas in Sindh. Almost six districts in Sindh were declared calamity hit areas due to devastations of floods in 2010-11.
He further observed that issue of unemployment of youth could be resolved by promoting agro related industry at local level. Shah suggested early resolution of outstanding circular debt issue to resolve the energy crisis because power tariff had gone higher due to increased prices of furnace oil. Government should also focus on solar and wind energy as both the resources were abundant in Sindh especially in coastal areas.
