Lapse of allocated development funds: Efforts to be made to find a solution, Dar tells NA

ISLAMABAD: Amid pressing demands by the lawmakers to find a way out to avoid the lapse of the allocated development funds, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday assured the house he would make utmost efforts to find a solution to the issue.

The house unanimously passed a resolution last week for finding a way forward to avoid the lapse of development funds as the financial year 2022-23 is going to end.

The finance minister while speaking on the issue in the house said that under the law, the development funds would be lapse; however, he would make utmost effort to find a solution to the issue.

The lawmakers while taking part in the budget debate lauded the measures proposed by the government to move the national economic-wheel at a faster pace with remarkable allocations of development funds.

Resuming debate on the federal budget for the fiscal year 2023-24, Barjees Tahir of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said that the budget had been presented amid the difficult economic conditions and the government tried its best to initiate development activities taking the country to sustainable economic growth and provide maximum relief to the common man.

He said that the budgetary document, which contained remarkable development plans with the allocation of unprecedented funds, showed the incumbent government’s strong commitment to put the country on a consistent path of progress and development.

He recalled that when the incumbent government came into power, the national economy was on the brink of collapse due to failed policies of the past regime of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

But with collective wisdom and prudent strategy, he added, the present government avoided the looming threat of default and took the country towards macroeconomic stability.

He highlighted the importance of political stability for achieving economic sustainability, citing instances from the past when unelected people ruled the country by sidelining the democratically elected governments.

“No progress and prosperity can be achieved without political stability and prompt dispensation of justice in courts,” he said.

He strongly condemned the May 9 vandalism of military installations and memorials of martyrs, demanding exemplary punishment for those found involved in the anti-state activities.

Aslam Bhootani termed the budget good, development and relief-oriented despite financial constraints, taking due care of all segments of society, especially the government employees who got “unexpected raise” in their salaries and pensions.

He criticised the PTI workers and leadership for attacking the sensitive installations and desecration of the martyrs’ monument, terming it anti-state activities on the part of a political party that happened for the first time in the history of Pakistan.

Fazal Ali Shah Jillani of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) said that nature had bestowed Pakistan with great mineral resources and the government should exploit its full potential to make the country prosperous and self-reliant economically.

He appreciated the government for providing relief to the salaried class and suggested a 50 percent increase in salaries of the government employees from Grade 1 to 16, and 35 percent for Grade 17-22 employees, keeping in view the existing ratio of inflation.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023