Chairman, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP), and MNA Aftab Sherpao while commenting on budget 2013-14, has regretted that despite the huge financial losses to business community and badly damaged infrastructure in prolonged militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the government has not announced any special financial package for the economic revitalisation in the province.
QWP chief said the people of the KP, particularly business community had been greatly disappointed over the federal budget, wherein no comprehensive financial package for the economic revitalisation of KP has been proposed. Quoting the Federal Minister Finance statement on the floor of national assembly, he said KP has suffered losses to the tune of 125 billion dollars.
"More than 70 per cent industrial units have been closed down due to unfavourable environment for local and foreign investment in the KP," said QWP chief. He furthermore said the government had withdrawn a special Prime Minister Fiscal Relief Package, announced by the previous government, instead of announcing more incentives for the revival of businesses and industries growth in the province.
QWP chief said that around 40,000 KP people were killed and its infrastructure was destroyed in subversion, but the government did not announce any financial package for the province. He asked: "The government should extend special incentives for revival of the industries and businesses, which could helpful to create maximum job opportunities in KP." About the approaching to IMF-bailout package, he suggested that the government should obligatory for seeking monetary assistance from the IMF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other financial institutions, to amicable address Pakistani economic owes. He expressed the hope that the government would meet the revenue targets set for next financial year.
A plan has been proposed for settling circular debt within 60 days, which is a welcoming step, he added. He suggested that a viable solution would be sorted out for overcoming with this issue once and for all. While commenting on the federal budget, Sherpao said the increase in the general sales tax would trigger more inflation, and common man directly affected from this move. He further added that government has failed to give any relief to general masses in the budget.
Despite the burgeoning inflation, he said the government has not been proposed increase in salaries' of government employees in the budget. QWP chief also welcomed some austerity measures of PML-N led government in federal budget, including slashing the expenses of President House and Prime Minister's Secretariat, withdrawing of the discretionary funds of the ministers.