Pakistan Muslim League-Q while rejecting the annual budget 2008-09 said that it did not contain any kind of relief for poor and underprivileged group. Opposition leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said that the budget was disappointing and there is no relief for the poor.
"Not a single promise made with people before the February 18 elections was fulfilled", he asserted. He referred to the on-going spiralling prices of 'atta', ghee and other food items, which, he said, have went out of the approach of common man. The government did nothing to bring the prices down or control it, he added.
He also pointed out that the government failed to evolve substantial and durable policy in the budget to sustain the national economy. The previous economic policies, he pointed out, have been disturbed by the present government due to their irresponsible statements. "Almost all the policies of our government were reproduced with new names. But the government did nothing new according to the changing of the national and international economic situation, Elahi charged.
"This can be the unique ruling coalition in the world which on one hand holds anti-government march and on the other is governing the country", he added.
He criticised the government for, what he said not planning to overcome power crisis. "There is no plan to build new dams and even the already approved project of the Kalabagh dam was scrapped," he added. He also criticised the government for increasing only Rs 550 subsidy on the fertiliser, saying that the subsidy should has been increased in the ratio of its price hike.
During the PML-Q government, fertiliser price was Rs 1200 now it has increased to Rs 3000. The opposition leader added that this budget would further increase the rate of unemployment due to lack of new schemes in the industrial and employment sectors.
To a question, he said that the number of judges could not be increased in such a manner which is mentioned in the budget speech. Against the government allegations, Pervaiz claimed that during his government 2700 mw electricity was added to the national grid.
Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, parliamentary leader of PML-Q in the National Assembly said that this budget is neither pro-poor nor pro-people.
Since February this year, the prices have been increased by 40 percent whereas salaries were increased only 20 percent. Without any revolutionary measures, the flood of inflation could not be controlled, he added.
Riaz Hussain Pirzada of PML-Q said that all the polices of Shaukat Aziz have been revised with changed names.
He cited that Khushhal Pakistan was renamed as Benazir program. Akram Masih Gill, a Minority member of PML-Q, also denounced the budget terming it anti-minority as no relief package is announced in the new budgt. He demanded 100 percent raise in the budget of minority wingt. MQM deputy parliamentary leader in the National Assembly refused to comment on the budget, saying that his party would react after thoroughly examining the budget documents.
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