The opposition in the Senate on Wednesday feared the reversal of macro-economic indicators derived stability from post 9/11 scenario, if the government could not come out with a tangible set of measures to control what it termed skyrocketing inflation touching double digit. Speaking on a motion moved to discuss fresh wave of price hike in the country, the opposition lawmakers put the blame of recent 'unprecedented' inflationary trend on the government's policies.
Almost all the senators who spoke on the motion were unanimous that authorities' inability to control the trend of price hike of late had placed the public particularly the salaried class in a situation wherein they find it difficult to make both ends meet.
There, however, emerged a sort of difference among opposition ranks on whether Shaukat Aziz's economic managers should go ahead with their what a senator called over-aggressive policy of privatisation or not.
A senator criticised the government's most recent mechanism of disposing of national institutions after another denounced former Prime Minister late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's nationalisation policy.
The senators were particularly critical of prices of consumer goods especially edible items touching all-time high in seven years as indicated in Consumer Price Index (CPI).
They also challenged the government's often-repeated claim of stability at macro-economic level and reserves, as they thought the sharp rise in foreign funding and remittances was the sole reason behind it.
Initiating what might be termed an over-participated but under-attended debate, PML-N Senator Ishaq Dar warned the inflation could deprive the government of advantages Pakistan had bagged after post-9/11 scenario.
He and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) stalwart Professor Khursheed Ahmed asked the government to boost agriculture and industrial sectors aggressively to make sure the trickle-down effect of macro-economic stability.
Referring to a State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) most recent report on the state of economy, both the leaders-arguably considered as leading economists-denounced what they observed daily use items slipping out of declining people's purchasing power sharply.
Some of the Baloch nationalists put before the House a disparity among the prices of same items in the different provinces especially in Balochistan and questioned the reason behind this phenomenon.
The government also came under fire for its failure to finalise 6th National Finance Commission (NFC) Award ahead of the coming budget for fiscal 2005-06, making sure just distribution of shares to provinces out of the federal divisible pool.
LAW AND ORDER SITUATION: Later, in the evening sitting the Upper House also held a short debate on law and order situation in the country wherein the opposition was also critical of the government's performance.
In response to what might be termed tired-looking speeches of opposition members on a motion, the government admitted the alarming increase in the crime ratio of late, but claimed it was taking measures to control it.
The government, Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao told the House, was bringing several administrative and operational changes in investigation and judicial system to put in place a tight control over alleged police atrocities against people.
The session, requisitioned by the opposition to discuss political situation, price hike and law and order, was prorogued after disposing of agenda in three days.