ISLAMABAD: The government policies are to be blamed for economic inactivity in the country, and the large size of the cabinet is a burden on the national exchequer, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader, Ahsan Iqbal said on Friday. Speaking on a cut motion against the demand of grants of the cabinet division PML-N Member National Assembly, Ahsan Iqbal, described the huge cabinet of 50 members not only contrary to the prime minister's claim but also a burden on taxpayers. He also regretted that demand of grants for the Cabinet Division was not allocated funds for promoting tourism which the government has been claming to promote and came hard on the government for blaming the pilot for the plane crash in Karachi. He said that the statements coming from some government functionaries could jeopardize the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)' landing rights in Europe.
Iqbal added that the present government came to power on the slogan of "Naya Pakistan" but deplored that the huge size of the federal cabinet had been the largest ever in the history of the country. The prime minister who has been advocating a small cabinet of 15 members has inducted around 50 members in his cabinet. He added that while in opposition, the Prime Minister was against taking loans, but after coming into power the present government has taken record loans. Iqbal added that not a single statement of the prime minister could be found that was without contradiction.
The PML-N leader continued that the prime minister had been speaking of promoting tourism but not a single rupee had been allocated in the budget of the Cabinet Division for promotion of tourism. He said that Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) whose primary objective was to promote tourism had not been allocated any fund. Such false statements were made to the people, he added. Iqbal said prime minister had only been talking and his words were hollow without any actions.
Earlier, the National Assembly approved as many as 96 demands of grants of various ministries and divisions for the next fiscal year of a total amount of Rs1.5 trillion after opposition did not submit any cut motions.
Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar presented demands of grants, these were related to Climate Change, Commerce Division, Communications Division, Pakistan Post, Defence Division, Survey of Pakistan, Economic Affairs Division, Power Division, Petroleum Division, Geological Survey of Pakistan, Foreign Affairs Division, Housing and Works Division, Human Rights Division, Information and Broadcasting Division, Information Technology and Telecommunication, Inter-Provincial Coordination, Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Division, Law and Justice Division, Federal Shariat Court, Council of Islamic Ideology, National Accountability Bureau, District Judiciary Islamabad Capital Territory, Maritime Affairs, Narcotics Control, National Assembly, The Senate, Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Division, Parliamentary Affairs Division, Planning Development and Special Initiatives Division, CPEC Authority, Privatisation Division, Religious Affairs and Inter Faith Harmony Division, Science and Technology Division, and States and Frontier Regions and Water Resources.
The National Assembly with regard to budget for the next fiscal year (2020-2021) resumed with Speaker Asad Qaiser in the chair, and Minister for Industries and Production read out demand of grants for the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs, Petroleum Division, Power Division, Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Information and Technology, Housing and Construction, Inter-provincial Coordination, Ministry of Planning Division, and others. Soon after the minister for industries and production started presenting demands of grants for approval, the Pakistan Muslim League (N) immediately pointed out that the required process was not being followed for approval of demand of grants of ministries.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
Comments
Comments are closed.