National Assembly budget debate: opposition lawmakers ask government to cut non-development expenditures

The opposition lawmakers in the National Assembly on Friday urged federal government to cut its non-development expenditures and conduct population census in the country. The parliamentarians also urged the government to bring more people into tax net and give subsidy on pesticides, fertilisers and machineries of agriculture sector to develop the sector.
Talking part in debate on budget 2014-15, Shafqat Mahmood of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said that after the auction of 3-G and 4-G licenses, the desired revenue could not be achieved due to monopoly of the some specific multinational companies. The government should task the monopoly control authority to probe into the matter, he added.
The PTI lawmaker further asked the government to enhance tax base to increase revenue collection. He underlined the need to pay special attention on providing clean drinking water and health facilities to masses, besides improving governance and public services delivery system. Responding to Mahmood, Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Anusha Rehman said that there was no monopoly control authority in the country while Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) deals with such issues. She also clarified that about the alleged monopoly of some multinational companies, saying that the CCP had not received any complaint.
Shagufta Jumani of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) said that there were 57 schemes for Punjab in PSDP while only 56 for other three provinces - a step-motherly treatment which the government must not resort to as far as providing relief to the poor. Taking part in the debate on budget 2014-15, Gulzar Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) stressed the need to address the imbalance between indirect and direct taxes, saying the imposition of indirect taxes would affect middle and lower class of the society. He said that no measures have been suggested in the budget for alleviation of poverty.
Syed Javed Ali Shah of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) called for providing more incentive to farmers which positively impact on agriculture sector growth. He said that the government should revise Indus Water Treaty, as Pakistan is an agriculture country and without sufficient water it is impossible to achieve agriculture growth target. He said that democracy should be supported in any circumstances for development and prosperity of the country.
Sheikh Salahuddin of MQM urged that local bodies' elections should be conducted without any delay, as the Local government is vital for a strong democratic system. PML-N MNA Sardar Mansab Ali Dogar said that the house should continue debate on the issue of threats to democracy raised by Mahmood Khan Achakzai.
Munawar Talpur of PPP demanded that Tahirul Qadri, chief of Pakistan Awami Tehreek, should be sent back to Canada from the airport. About the poor law and order situation, he said that the situation has become so worse that foreign dignitaries have started refusing to visit Pakistan and the recent refusal of Maldives president is enough to make us realise which way we are heading. Muzzamil Hussain Qureshi of MQM demanded that Sheesha cafes should be banned and federation should also enhance it's jurisdiction in tax collection mechanism. Karachi City has ignored in the budget, he added.