ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has appreciated the cooperation of armed forces in the budget making, saying that despite the nefarious Indian designs, the government did not increase the defence budget.
In a video statement on Saturday, the foreign minister described it as a major decision not to increase the defence budget despite the nefarious Indian designs.
"The armed forces have extended full cooperation to the government, keeping in view the current economic situation," he added.
Qureshi maintained that the 'hallmark' of the next year's budget was that no new tax had been imposed in it, adding that the government had rather reduced the burden on the people by cutting taxes, duties, and tariffs.
Qureshi said the government effort was to improve the tax collection system by bringing reforms in the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR).
Qureshi said the government was trying to generate economic activity in the country and for the purpose sectors such as agriculture and construction had been given priority to create job opportunities for the youth.
He said ample resources had been allocated in the budget for the agriculture and construction of water reservoirs, adding that Rs10 billion had been earmarked to cope with the challenge posed by locusts.
The foreign minister said incentives had been given to the construction industry to enhance growth, adding that the government was making an effort to take the economy out of negative to the positive mode.
He said no cut had been made on the public sector development programme keeping in view the growth factor.
The foreign minister said the allocations for Ehsaas Programme had also been enhanced from Rs178 billion to Rs208 billion for supporting the weak and disadvantaged segments of the society.
He pointed out that the G20 and Paris Club had provided some relief in the form of suspension of payment of loans, adding that now the focus was on other financial institutions, which would enable the government to divert resources to job creation and poverty alleviation.
Qureshi said the budget 2020-21 was presented in extraordinary circumstances as the Covid-19 pandemic had badly impacted the world economy.
He regretted the attitude of the opposition parties in the National Assembly, saying the opposition parties were supposed to have shown a serious attitude given the prevailing situation in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Qureshi pointed out that the 7th National Finance Commission (NFC) Award had tied the hands of the federal government, adding that 60 percent of the revenue from direct and indirect revenues goes to the provinces, while 40 percent remains with the federation.
About the social sector, he said that although health and education were the responsibility of the provinces, the government had allocated a huge amount in the budget to improve these areas.
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