Leader of the Opposition Mahmud-u-Rashid speaking in the Punjab Assembly budget debate here on Wednesday demanded that the Punjab government should take back taxes on agricultural inputs. Rana Muhammad Iqbal chaired the session. Rashid continuing with his assertion stated that the government with a view to improve agri sector should revive subsidies for the sector. He also asked provincial government to take steps for insurance of their harvests.
The legislator asked the government to take out finances from other spending to invest in health sector that was so vital for the nation, he stated. The Punjab Opposition Leader further asked the government to take steps for structuring of local government system. He demanded the provincial government to allocate funds to the opposition legislators so that fruits of development reach their constituencies.
The opposition leader giving his remarks on proposed budget 2016-17 stated that the budget making was a routine bureaucratic exercise. He pointed that it would have been better if it was sent to standing committee of the parliament for preparation. The Punjab Leader of Opposition stated that the Punjab budget was a deficit budget. He demanded that new taxes in the provincial budget should be taken back. He stated that the province had not achieved its fiscal targets. He said the province had a heavy debt burden for which he demanded that prudent economic policies be adopted.
Another opposition legislator speaking in the budgetary session asked the government to spend money on transport wisely and demanded that the province should not put all its revenues on Orange Train Project. An opposition MPA speaking on the occasion stressed upon the government to spend more on the women empowerment- he demanded that tax levied on exports should be taken back. There was a walkout and shouting of slogans from the opposition during budget debate. The house was later adjourned by the chair.