Budget debate: PPP praises increased allocation for BISP; PTI for tax on agriculture incomes

The opposition parties in the National Assembly on Tuesday termed the federal budget for fiscal year 2015-16 pro-rich, saying the education, heath and agriculture sectors have been completely ignored by Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf demanded imposition of tax on all agri incomes.
They criticised the government for giving what they said lowest-ever increase in salaries of the government employees and proposed to increased salaries 15 to 20 percent especially those of low-grade government employees and pensioners who are already underpaid. While opening the debate on 2015-16 budget, opposition leader in National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah said he had nothing to say except that it is a budget for rich and there is nothing for the poor, "which is quite shocking".
"The government prepared Budget-2015-16 under the conditions of International Monitory Fund (IMF), ignoring the poor," he lamented. He said the government should announce the 8th National Finance Commission (NFC) award according to the aspirations of the people, adding the government must divert more resources towards primary education and healthcare in the new NFC award.
While discussion education sector, Shah said there is allocation of 1.67 % of GDP on education. He said the education is a provincial subject yet they are not capable enough to fully manage the education sector as it needs co-ordinated efforts. He said that primary education needs special attention of the federal government, saying it is education through which we can progress in today's world, adding a mere 1.67 of GDP is nothing to overcome the education challenges.
Shah said that federal government should take the responsibility of primary education under Article 25A of the Constitution which says, (The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen years in such manner as may be determined by law). He proposed to constitute a primary education commission like higher education commission in order to improve the education standard and to ensure every child gets quality education.
He also proposed to establish universities in rural areas. The PPP leader said that health sector needs drastic efforts as due to a lack of quality healthcare, 62.5 million people are patients of hepatitis B and C, but the government is not paying any heed to it, forcing people who could not afford treatment to die. He also lambasted the ruling PML-N for its failure to overcome the energy crisis despite tall claims, adding "where are those commitments when you claimed to ensure uninterrupted power supply to industries, masses, etc?"
"It's industrial growth has gone down the drain as the government has failed to supply uninterrupted power supply to industrial units," he lamented. Shah said out that the government had missed targets in the agricultural and industrial sectors. He severely criticised the government for not making timely payments to farmers. He came down hard on the government for imposing tax on poultry feed, while granting exemption to spare parts for airplanes and heavy vehicles. The privatisation policy of the government, he added, is also another failure as sell-off of Heavy Electrical Complex and Habib Bank Limited (HBL) was carried out at throwaway prices. The only thing for which the otherwise tough opposition leader seemed grateful to the government was an increase the allocation for the Benazir Income Support Programme - a social safety net programme named after the late PPP leader Benazir Bhutto.
Shah also appreciated increase in allocations for Baitul Maal and the recently launched Metro Buses. At the same time Shah was irked by over Rs2 billion subsidy for the metro bus service. "The PPP government had given 125 per cent increase in the salaries of the government employees in its last tenure. I urge the government to increase the salary of government employees by at least 25pc," he suggested.
He called upon the government to call an all parties conference to discuss the issue of rapid population growth. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar said that the government has presented Rs139 billion supplementary grants only for vehicles, perks and privilege for ministers and advisors. He said the government has allocated Rs 2 billion for prime minister's food and Rs 130 million for airplanes for VIPs.
He said that debt of the country has crossed 60% of GDP which is a violation of law. He said that government has increased GST from 16% to 34%. He said that the number of unemployed people raised by 1.5 million in the last two years. He urged the government to bring down 15% GST in next year and further to bring at 12.5% in next two years. He said that privileges of Rs 650 billion are being given to higher class (rich people) in the budget. This amount should be reduced to Rs 325 billion. He said that tax on capital gain and property should be imposed.
He proposed a 15% increase in salaries of government employees and a Rs 15000 minimum pension for the pensioners. He also proposed an increase in tax on big vehicles. He asked the government to impose tax on all agriculture incomes. He said the government should give maximum facilities to small farmers. While opposing the tax on mobile cells, he said that government should not increase tax on cell phones. He also proposed that the government should allocate Rs 25 billion to clean drinking water, health and education for Islamabad.
Dr Farooq Sattar of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) termed budget anti-poor and said the government did not give relief to the common man. He said that government could not meet the targets of export, agriculture and other sectors. He said the government should give relief to people on commodities and also give them maximum facilities of health and education. He said the government should give relief to reduce the prices of oil, fertilizer and electricity bills. He urged the government to allocate 3% of GDP for health and education sectors in this budget which should be increased 5% in the next two years.
Daniyal Aziz of PML-N said we have to resolve the problems like new NFC Award and full implementation of the 18th Amendment through collective thinking. He said the government has fixed a target of thirty thousand solar powered tube-wells to enhance irrigation water availability which will help increase agriculture production. Qaisar Ahmad Shaikh, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali and other members also spoke.