Sardar Azam Khan Musakhel, a Senator belonging to PkMAP, an ally of ruling PML-N, on Monday said that new budget is reflection of Punjab's highhandedness which is once again out to roll back 18th Amendment in connivance with the federal government. Talking part in budget debate in Senate, the opposition senators castigated the government for relying on foreign loans and more indirect taxation again with regard to new budget while a key ruling party leader Senator Mushahid Ullah Khan hit hard at PPPP for protecting the corrupt elements and challenged PPP to prove that Zardari had nothing to do with controversial supermodel Ayyan Ali and Dr Asim.
Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani found in order an adjournment motion moved by JI's Senator Sirajul Haq to discuss the decision of the International Court of Justice to stay the execution of death sentence awarded to Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. The date will be fixed for discussion afterwards.
Senator Sardar Azam Musakhel of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) said that there is only one province in the country and that is Punjab which rules the country with full might. He questioned why Pak-Afghan border often remains shut while Pakistan's border with India at Wagah did not face such situation.
"This situation will add to hatred and push us towards war while the National Action Plan has been a total failure, as Taliban belonging to Punjab are not touched," he said continuing his onslaught on the government. He advocated formulation of Pakistan's foreign and interior policies by the Parliament and staying away from Arab-Yemen conflict.
Senator Musakhail, who is from Balochistan, pointed out that in the budget, an allocation of Rs 400 billion had been made for Eastern route of CPEC, whereas Rs 10 billion for the Western route. He claimed that Gwadar no more belongs to Balochistan and it is now part of China and Lahore.
About budgetary allocations for defence, the senator alleged that 80 per cent budget went for defence purposes. He added the budget offered incentives to industrial of the rulers' choice and this would add to class divisions in the society. Last week, Parliamentary Leader PkMAP Senator Usman Kakar had charged that Lahore and not Islamabad was the federal capital of Pakistan.
PML-N Senator Mushahid Ullah asked PPPP to sign the proposed charter of economy, as it would benefit the poor and reduce poverty. He added the charter of democracy, despite some issues, has strengthened democracy in Pakistan. "For the charter of economy, you will have to stop corruption and this may help you say goodbye to the menace once and for all," he sarcastically said, addressing PPPP Senator Taj Haider, who earlier delivered budget speech and announced they would not sign the charter with the government, as it always works against the poor and labour class of the country.
It was part of history, he claimed, when the charter of democracy was being worked out and a team of ex-ruler Pervez Musharraf was also present in London, with which an NRO was signed. PML-N senator asked PPPP why it had failed to address the energy crisis and increase GDP growth, which stood at below 3 per cent during its rule while foreign exchange reserves were around $6 billion, which, he claimed, are now over $24 billion.
After the 18th Amendment, he noted, the provinces are free to generate electricity on their own but while Punjab in the last four years has been able to install various projects to produce 3,800 megawatts power and by next year, it would reach 5,000 megawatts. "While on the contrary, PPPP in Sindh and PTI in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could not produce 2 megawatts electricity so far," he said.
He alleged that PPPP has not done anything for people of Sindh, where it has been in power since 2008 and it only focused on corruption and how to protect the corrupt elements. He alleged even the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine was not spared and despite collecting massive donations, neither is there electricity nor any health facility there.
"Corrupt PPPP ministers left Pakistan while Rs 91 billion in the name of Larkana city were eaten up," he said.
The trickledown effect of CPEC, he claimed, is resulting in creation of job opportunities and generation of economic activity. On the contrary, during PPPP rule, the Supreme Court said that some parties had armed wings in Karachi and a chief minister was meeting with Uzair Baloch to distribute party tickets.
PPPP Senator Taj Haider said the PML-N budget is meant to snatch from the poor and labour class and give to the privileged class and that the budget is designed to obtain more and more loans, encouraging investment in stock exchange and real estate, which has nothing to do with the common man.
He claimed the government's economic policies would further divide the rich and the poor. He proposed that by taxing the corporate sector and broadening the tax net, budget deficit can be reduced. Haider ruled out the possibility of signing any charter of economy, alleging the rulers would pocket wealth from Pakistan and transfer it to London and Dubai. He added the government failed to boost the exports and focus on production.
PTI's Shibli Faraz and Senator Sassui Palijo of PPPP assailed the government for ignoring the 18th amendment and not coming up with NFC Award. They alleged the government has failed to introduce structural reforms, saying things cannot be changed by inauguration of projects merely.
They said that the provinces should be given incentives to collect income tax and sales tax. They charged that Centre and provinces are not implementing the National Action Plan. Senator Palijo claimed the allocations for Sindh are being slashed substantially annually.
She said the government and the country are being run on loans and added the development schemes are only for Punjab. The PPPP senator added that the massive allocations under PSDP would be used for political objectives, as it is an election budget and the Prime Minister would dole out funds to his lawmakers.
Senators Amir Kabir of the National Party and Yaqub Nasir of PML-N urged the government to make allocations on war footing for taping water facility in Balochistan, which would not only hugely benefit the local population but also entire Pakistan. They also called for measures to bring down prices of daily use items to affordable level of the common man.
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