ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement Tuesday stressed the people's involvement in economic policy making, warning the government that lack of participation in the national affairs by the less developed areas could be harmful to the national integration.
Taking part in the general discussion on federal budget 2012-13, Minister for Overseas Pakistan and MQM's Parliamentary Leader Dr Farooq Sattar said it was unfortunate 98 percent people have no say in economic policy making.
He said though the parliament has taken various symbolic steps like 18th, 19th and 20th amendments but the situation can never be improved until people are involved in decision making on economic issues.
He said people's role should not be confined to voting and tilt of tax needed to be shifted from poor to wealthy people else the country's economic health cannot be improved.
Pointing at law and order situation in Karachi, he said, "Even today, around 30 traders are in kidnapper's custody.
He expressed the need for launching development projects in Karachi.
He said every province including Balochistan should have right over its resources that had been the MQM's stance in All Parties Conference and other platform and economic agreements should also be signed if required.
Farooq Sattar said in future, if nationalists also boycott elections besides separatists, it could lead to disintegration mainly due to the economic adversity.
"Sense of deprivation is turning into sense of strangeness that would beget sense of alienation", he said adding such tragedies do not take place in a moment rather they are usually the outcome of decades of deprivation.
Farooq Sattar suggested BISP funds be slashed to Rs 50 billion out of which Rs 25 billion should be disbursed through balloting and rest of that should be used to promote small enterprises.
He claimed the government has facilitated the privileged class in the fifth annual budget and that the quantum of export has not been increased rather it was due to increased value of dollar.
He suggested the establishment of a network of agro-based industries by setting up agriculture research universities in agriculturally-rich areas of South Punjab where feudalism rules.
He said at time of inception, the cell phone charges were Rs12 per minute and roti cost only 0.50 paisas but now the call rate has been reduced to 0.50 paisas and roti's price has been surged to Rs5.
He proposed direct tax on every taxable income and reducing indirect tax to 55 percent, adding decrease in oil and electricity prices can only help reduce poverty by creating space for investment.
He said 16 percent sales tax should be imposed across the board that would help generate additional Rs125 billion despite reducing the ratio.
Sattar suggested abolishing petroleum levy to reduce petroleum prices besides reducing discount rate from Rs12 to Rs10.
The MQM leader proposed further spending on energy sector, investment in Human resources and infrastructural development of agriculture and water.
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