President Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Shahbaz Sharif on Monday lambasted the 'mini-budget' of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, saying it would further burden the poverty-stricken segment of the country.
Speaking at a dinner-cum-reception which he hosted for his party's members of the National Assembly and Senate, the PML-N president asked the party lawmakers to highlight the negative impacts of the 'mini-budget' on the lives of a common man in their speeches in the Parliament.
Shahbaz Sharif dubbed the finance bill presented by Finance Minister Asad Umar in the National Assembly as an 'anti-people', adding: "It is injustice with the people, especially the poor segment, by levying indirect taxes on the masses through the mini-budget."
Speaking further on the 'shortcomings' of the mini-budget, he said that that the slashed funds for the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) would adversely affect growth and development.
He said that the PML-N government, under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, had increased the PSDP fund from Rs 300 billion in 2013 to Rs 800 billion in 2018, adding that his party government gave motorways and highways to the country to put it on the path of development.
Shahbaz Sharif, who is also leader of the opposition in National Assembly, criticized the PTI government's decision to levy more taxes on gas, saying that they would burden the common man.
Sources said that the PML-N leadership also held discussions on the issue of appointment of chairman Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and reiterated their support to Shehbaz Sharif to head the high-powered parliamentary body on the revenue and expenditures of the government.