The National Assembly Wednesday approved 92 demands of grants, worth Rs 6.23 trillion, pertaining to different ministries, divisions and departments for the next fiscal year and rejected all 410 cut motions put forth by the opposition parties. The opposition severely criticised the demands for grants for Cabinet Division and the Communications Ministry, as more than 296 cut motions were only related to Cabinet Division against Rs 3 trillion grants. A total of 23 demands for grant were presented in the House for approval by the Cabinet Division.
On this, the PPP leader Khursheed Shah rose up, saying they challenge the voting on the cut motion, which compelled Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser, who was presiding over the session, to go for head counting, which cleared the dust as 160 members voted in favour while 126 voted against it. The government presented three demands pertaining to Rs 11.12 billion of the Communications Ministry, on which the opposition brought in more than 100 cut motions, seeking decrease in the demands for grant. However, the House rejected all the cut motions presented by the opposition.
Besides, the House approved 66 demands for grants, worth Rs 3.12 trillion, pertaining to various ministries, divisions and departments without any cut motions, as there came no objection from the opposition side.
These demands were related to Climate Change Division, Commerce Division, Communications Division, Postal Services, Defence Division, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Housing and Works Division, Federal Lodges, Human Rights Division, Industries and Production Division, Information Technology and Telecommunication Division, Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, Maritime Affairs Division, National Assembly, National Health Services, Overseas and Human Resource Development Division, Planning and Reform Division, Privatisation Division, Pakistan Railways, State and Frontier Regions Division, Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, and others.
Speaking on the occasion, the leaders of opposition parties severely criticised the government, especially Prime Minister Imran Khan, for his tall claims of keeping a small cabinet, besides reducing the expenditure, before coming into power.
They said that the Prime Minister is doing complete opposite of his claims as the number of his ministers, advisers and special assistants is more than any other governments of the past. They also said that besides claiming austerity measures, the budgets of PM House and Presidency have also been increased.
PML-N leader Khawaja Asif said that the US dollar has attained record high of Rs 161, which is quite dangerous for the fragile economy of the country. To deal with economic crisis, he added, the government should have built consensus on the budget.
PPP MNA Hina Rabbani Khar said that GDP growth rate has considerably gone down in ten months, which shows the government has no vision to streamline the economy, which is ultimately weakening the country.
Winding up discussion on cut motions, State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad said that 32 percent decrease in the expenditure of Prime Minister House has been made as expenses came down from Rs 986 million to Rs 675 million since Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf took over.
Regarding poverty alleviation, he said Rs 192 billion has been allocated to uplift the downtrodden segment of society. He said Prime Minister's Inspection Commission has filed six inquiries in just one year while just five inquiries were filed during the entire term of PML-N government of the past. He said funds allocation for National Disaster Management Authority is being increased to help people during calamities.
In their speeches on cut motions, the opposition members criticised the performance of the Cabinet Division, Establishment Division and other departments. They opposed allocation of budget for Cabinet Division as it has failed to deliver. They said that about four million people have gone below the poverty line due to mismanagement of economic matters.
The lawmakers demanded provinces' share under National Finance Commission Award and improvement in the performance of Pakistan International Airlines. They said no sector has been given relief in the budget.
Those who took part in the debate included Barjees Tahir, Abdul Qadir Patel, Abdul Akbar Chitrali, Khurram Dastgir Khan, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Zahid Akram Durrani, Shagufta Jumani, Saad Waseem, Shahid Akhtar Ali, and Tahira Aurangzeb.
Earlier, the National Assembly held discussion on the charged expenditure included in demands for grants and appropriations for the next financial year.
Charged expenditures totalling over Rs 43.47 trillion relate to different departments and services including Civil Works, Pakistan Railways, National Assembly, Senate and domestic and foreign debt servicing.
Speaking on the charged expenditures, the members said that the government should reduce the policy rate. They pointed out that a major amount of the budget is going in debt servicing and the government should chalk out a strategy to put the country on path of self-reliance. They called for revisiting the debt and economic strategy of the government.
They said that loss-making state entities like PIA and Pakistan Steel Mills should be privatised. They said that services of Pakistan Railways should be improved for the convenience of the passengers.
At the outset, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari urged the chair to issue production orders for MNAs Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar Ali enabling them to participate in the budget session and raise issues of their respective constituencies. Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri remarked that Speaker Asad Qaisar is looking into the matter and will take a final decision as per law.
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