Members from opposition and treasury benches in the National Assembly urged the government on Tuesday to announce viable incentives for agriculture sector, as it is a backbone of the economy. Debating on the budget, the members focused on the agriculture sector while a protest demonstration by the farmers was being held in front of the Parliament House.
Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Co-ordination Riaz Hussain Pirzada informed the members that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would chair an exclusive meeting on agriculture sector and would try to address the problems faced by the farmers. In the last cabinet meeting it was decided that the Prime Minister would chair an exclusive meeting on agriculture sector to accommodate more incentives for the sector, he said.
During proceedings of the National Assembly, Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah said that farmers from all provinces are protesting outside the Parliament House. The farmers must be ensured that GST to be slashed on fertilizer and tractors. He urged the government to give more incentives to the agriculture sector. Taking part in the debate Muhammad Akram Ansari of PML-N said it is the best budget in the prevailing circumstances. The government is taking forward the country on the path to progress and development according to the vision of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and that is why other people are ready to invest in Pakistan. Ansari said the proposed China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a big achievement of the government which will bring 46 billion dollars investment from China.
He urged the government for giving incentives for promotion of cottage industry. The government should announce loans on easy terms to replace the outdated industry. Amir Ali Shah Jamot criticised the budget saying there is a need to focus on agriculture research. He further said 18-20 hours load shedding is being carried out contrary to tall claims of the government. He further said that no subsidies have been given on cotton crops while farmers failed to get the support price of Rs 1350 per 40 kg for wheat.
Waheed Alam Khan said the government has presented a balanced budget within the available resources. He urged the government withdraw all taxes on poultry industry, broaden the tax net and hold population census in the country. Khan praised the government for starting health insurance schemes. The government achieved 4.24 growth rate, which is higher in the last seven years. He further proposed steps should be taken to promote National Savings.
Rai Hassan Nawaz said that government announced mini budget every month and people are taking least interest in the budget. The government is framing anti-farmers policy while agriculture is the backbone of the country's economy. He termed it the budget of industrialists. Abdul Manan said that due to sit-ins many MoUs about investing in Pakistan were affected while Chinese President's visit to Pakistan was delayed. He further said that government has broadened the tax net from 0.718 million to 0.892 million. He urged opposition for going side by side for the development of the country.
Dr Nikhat Shakeel Khan of MQM said that Karachi is the 70 percent revenue earning city and it should be given development projects on the basis of equity and not equality. She further raised objections over the Defence Minister statement and said that MQM was being targeted with hatred statements. She urged for more development projects in Karachi.
Abdul Sattar Bachani urged the government for giving incentives to the agriculture sector. Sajid Mehdi termed the budget balanced and proposed agriculture council for the promotion of agriculture sector. Aqibullah said that all the targets set for the current financial year have been missed. He also proposed incentives for the agriculture sector.
Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar said that if country's situation remained the same, unemployment will be over 30 million by 2025. He said charter of economy is the need of the hour to pull out the country of prevailing crisis. He proposed urban property tax. Former Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said the budget is a jugglery of words and the government should try to restore confidence of people in the democracy through good governance and resolving issues of ordinary people.
He said the government should trust the parliamentarians and its members as they all are capable enough to handle important ministries like defence and foreign affairs. "Timely decisions are always important in a democracy and appointment of defense and foreign affairs ministers would help the government initiate timely actions on certain issues," he said.
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