ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party lawmaker, Raza Rabbani Saturday termed the budget 2013-14 anti-people and said that it was against the spirit of federation and an attack on provincial autonomy.
Opening debate on the Finance Bill, 2013, containing Annual Budget Statement, on behalf of the leader of Opposition in the Senate, he said that the budget was pro-elite class and would promote capitalism.
He said that it would directly hit workers and middle class and new taxes worth Rs 168 billion would further burden the common people.
Rabbani said that enhancing one per cent General Sales Tax (GST) would have rolling effect on every thing resulting in price hike.
He said that prices of automobiles, education expenses, cost of marriage ceremonies, cold drinks and electricity tariff would surge resulting in more miseries to masses.
Rabbani claimed that 10 per cent increase in salaries and pensions of government employees would be insufficient keeping in view inflation in the country.
"Increase in minimum wages of workers is a part of PML-N manifesto, however, the budget document lacks such incentives to them," he said.
Regarding circular debt, Rabbani said it was a positive step of the government to end it.
He claimed that sales tax on services was given to the provinces under 18th Amendment and imposition of excise duty on services was a new thing and against the spirit of the amendment.
Rabbani said that hefty allocation was made for health and education sectors despite devolution of these ministries to the provinces.
He also criticised the move to withdraw package given to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) by the past government.
Rabbani said that the budget was also based on external flow including $ 800 million recovery from Etisalat, auction of 3G technology and Coalition Support Fund.
He praised the government for abolishing the prime minister's, ministers and state ministers discretionary funds.
However, he said that the government has made bloc allocation of Rs 150 billion for new initiatives, but these were not clarified.
Raza Rabbani also criticised government's step to give Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) access to people's bank accounts and suggested that tax network should be broadened.
He also strongly condemned bomb blast in the university bus and extensive damage to Quaid-i-Azam's Residency in Ziarat and said that this situation could not be handled by a single party.
He said it was need of the hour to join hands and tackle such issues.
Comments
Comments are closed.