Pakistan Muslim League (Q) MNA Marvi Memon has expressed concern that only a few days have been left in presenting the 2008-09 budget in the National Assembly, but there is no full-time minister to look after financial issues.
Addressing members of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Monday, Marvi said that due to there being no full-time finance minister neither the budget proposals have been discussed nor the elected members were consulted.
He said that PML Q government had left conducive trade and investment environment, but the present government seems unable to exploit this environment for boosting trade and investment activities. Memon said, "We intend to help the government to boost economic and trade activities, while sitting in opposition. We like to play a positive role so that problems faced by general public and business community should be solved and the country should progress".
He said, "We like that the present government should fulfil its promises, and pray that it should succeed in reducing oil prices."
He alleged that Ishaq Dar as finance minister had made a presentation before international media that it had played a big role in stock exchange crises, that foreign investors had become reluctant to invest. His false presentation of facts and figures damaged Pakistan's image abroad.
Expressing concern over increase in prices, Memon claimed that when PML Q government left the prices of atta, edible oil, sugar, rice and vegetables were much lower as compared to current prices of these items. Now nobody in the government talks about taking measures to reduce prices of these products, They only talk about restoration of judges.
Marvi said that the government should take measures to control depressing rupee value against dollar, control prices of essential items. "We while sitting in opposition are ready to help government to achieve these objectives." Regarding budget proposals, Memon assured that opposition would take up all budget proposals set by FPCCI, KCCI and other trade bodies in National Assembly.
Marvi said that caretaker finance minister Naveed Qamar has made some promises and he must make efforts to fulfil them so that the business community and general public should benefit.