Leaders of opposition parties have criticised that the government has ignored the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata in federal budget 2013-14, termed that it was not a people friendly budget. Talking to Business Recorder the Provincial Information Secretary Pakistan People Party Ayub Shah said that the budget was not a people friendly as no increase has been made in salaries and wages of the government employees and daily wagers.
He added that the former ruling PPP had provided maximum relief to masses by increasing their salaries and wages. He said the new elected government has totally ignored the downtrodden segment of the society. Shah said the PPP had approved Prime Minister Fiscal Relief Package for business community of KP, but incentive has been withdrawn by the present government in the budget. Similarly, he said no mega projects were being proposed for development of KP and Fata in the budget.
The provincial information secretary Awami National Party Malik Mustafa also criticised the budget and said that the people of KP were suffered in terrorism while on the other hand PML(N) government have ignored them in fiscal budget. Jamiate Ulema-e-Islam provincial spokesman Maulana Abdul Jalil Jan said that neither the budget was a balance nor people friendly and despite suffering in terrorism there was no special package in the budget for KP and Fata.
The Central General Secretary of Pakistan Muslim League(N) Iqbal Zafar Jhagra said that the government has proposed a number of steps for meeting the current economic challenges by reducing lavishly expenditures to overcome with the fiscal deficit. He said that the recovery of fragile economy would be top priority of the incumbent government, by achieving all fiscal targets, and would provide direct relief to the masses.
He added that all secret funds of Prime Ministers and Federal Minister have been abolished which would bring six billion revenue to national exchequer. He said that 10 per cent increase have been suggested in pension while only one per cent increase have been brought in sale tax which would be increased from 16 to 17 per cent only. He mentioned that the budget would bring positive impact on country economy, which would directly improve the life standard and economic position of the poor people.