NWFP Assembly on Wednesday commenced debate on 2005-06 provincial budget with demand for the immediate announcement of Sixth National Finance Commission (NFC) Award and payment of outstanding amounts against Wapda under the head of net profit on hydel power generation. Proceedings started with Speaker Bakht Jehan Khan in the chair.
Awami National Party (ANP) parliamentary party leader Bashir Ahmad Bilour opening the debate termed the budget a jugglery of words, saying that it had nothing new. He said that in the absence of NFC Award there was no need for announcing the budget.
He criticised the provincial government of MMA for authorising military uniform wearing President to decide important matters like distribution of the national resources among the federating units. "The decision of the MMA has given a message that the whole nation has consensus in the leadership of President General Pervez Musharraf," he lamented, adding that the provincial government was not even honouring the unanimously passed resolution by the elected assembly.
He rejected the contention of Finance Minister Siraj-ul-Haq that NWFP is a poor and backward province producing only 8 percent of its resources. He said that the province has no dearth of economic resources, but these are monopolised by the federal government. He said that tobacco, a crash crop of the province, generates a huge amount of Rs 42 billion in the form of central excise duty. However, unlike wheat and cotton, tobacco is not a provincial subject, he added.
Similarly, he said, the province has forests and minerals.
He said that the provinces require a joint struggle, "but we were always divided, either in the name of ideology of Pakistan, roti, kapra aur makaan or religion".
He said that today even those who had fought Kargil war are promoting friendship with Hindus.
Bilour said that 45.82 percent people of the province are living below poverty line.
Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao of PPP-Sherpao said that opposition has always taken a joint stand with the treasury whenever the question of provincial rights had arisen. However, they do not agree with the government over some policies. He said that MMA government comprising 'ulema' was supposed to show correct facts and figures in the budget, but the real situation is totally different. He said that the government has reflected only Rs 2 billion deficit in the budget, but it is many times higher than shown in the financial document.
He said that the increase in salaries of government employees has also raised the non-developmental expenditure.
He said that last year the federal government had given Balochistan a big relief package, and demanded similar relief package for NWFP also.
Demanding immediate announcement of the NFC Award, he said that persistent delay was badly affecting the economy of the province.
Anwar Kamal Khan Marwat of PML (N) said that the budget provides no relief for the general public. He said that the provincial government is collecting 8 different indirect taxes. He urged the government to spend the collected amount on the welfare and development of the people of the province.
Nisar Gul of Tehrik-e-Insaf said that delay in the announcement of NFC Award was pushing the province towards economic distress. He demanded of the provincial government to spend Rs 500 million gas royalty on development of district Karak.
Others who participated in the debate were Mohammad Asad (PML-Q), Jamshid Khan (PPP-Sherpao), Dr Sami Mahmood Jan (PML-Q), Nisar Safdar Jadoon (PML-Q), Abdul Majid Khan (MMA), Muniba Kamal (PPP-Parliamentarian), Salma Babar (PPP-Parliamentarian), Yasmin Khan, Zubaida Iqbal and Rukhsana Bibi of MMA.
The Speaker later adjourned the proceedings till 9.30 am on Thursday.