Law, order situation dominates National Assembly budget debate

The law and order situation in the country, particularly the recent wave of suicide attacks dominated the NA debate on the budget, on Tuesday. Many legislators while expressing concern over the increasing lawlessness and the recent spate of terrorism in the country, called upon the nation to become united to defeat terrorism and extremism.
The House also witnessed walkout by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmakers against the fresh move of targetted killings in Karachi, as party's leader Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi before leading the walkout protest said that 600 of his party workers have so far been killed in these killings.
Taking part in the debate, PPP-Sherpao's chairman and former interior minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said there was need to know that whether the masses' issue was budget or something else, adding that people were concerned about the incidents of terrorism happening frequently these days. Referring to losses caused to the country's economy due to war on terror, he said according to Finance Minister Hafeez Sheikh, the on-going war against terrorism has caused $68 billion to the exchequer, adding that the war has actually broken the backbone of our economy.
He, while referring to the sufferings of the common man due to the war, suggested formation of a trust for the victims of terrorism for which donations should be sought from the nation to assist the victims. He further suggested that the foreign assistance coming to the country should be diverted towards reconstruction of schools in the terror hit zones particularly the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Sherpao suggested that political reforms should be extended to the tribal areas, saying all the political forces should find solution together with military if there were obstacles from the military in extending the Political Parties Act to the Fata or bringing reforms in the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR).
While referring to inability of the government to properly utilize the country's resources, he suggested there should be a system of check and balance, adding that there was need to assess whether or not the resources were being utilised properly. Coming on the worsening law and order in Karachi, he suggested that all the political forces should sit together to find a permanent solution of the issue, adding that unity was need of the hour to overcome all challenges currently being faced by the nation.
PPP's MNA Azra Fazal Pechuho taking part in the budget debate stressed the need to broaden the tax net. She said that education was a must for development and there was need to look on the sector very carefully. She said that we were spending only 2 percent of the GDP on education, adding that primary education rate in Pakistan was less than Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. However, she said there were some financial constraints in improving the literacy rate.
MQM's Shagufta Sadiq described the recent budget as a traditional one saying that no revolutionary steps have been proposed to improve the life standard of a common man. She said tax must be levied on those who were enjoying all amenities and also called for imposing tax on the wealthy class.
She underscored the need for eradicating corruption from the national institutions and corporation likewise PIA, Pakistan Railways and also called for implementation of the new Afghan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement. She said increase in the salaries of employees was a good step, however, she added that there should be some relief to the masses other than salaried class owing to the inflation and price hike. PPP's Rubina Sadat Qaimkhani welcoming the budget, said there was need to construct maximum dams to overcome energy crisis, adding that Rs 18 billion have been earmarked in the budget for this purpose.
Expressing concern over the rising public debt, PML-N MNA Zahid Hamid said the government will not be able to achieve its revenue collection target as envisioned in the federal budget. He opposed the imposition of taxes through ordinances saying it was violation of the Constitution.
PML-N's Akram Ansari said that textile sector was earning $13-14 billion as foreign exchange but due to electricity and gas load shedding, the exports were on the decline. He said people were also suffering load shedding while the textile sector was not properly getting electricity. He said imposition of sales tax on bricks industry would lead to increase in bricks prices.
PPP's Shamshad Sattar Bachani appreciated the budget saying that relief has been given to masses. She said that flood destroyed the property and 160 million people were rendered homeless. She said Rs 16 billion have been allocated in the budget for flood victims. She said the government also gave priority to Fata and Balochistan uplift.
Minorities' MNA Dr Nelson Azeem called for imposition of new taxes to bridge Rs 100 billion deficit. He said there were over 20,000 families who earn Rs 300 million per month but were not paying tax. He stressed the need to bring such families in the tax net. He said there was Rs 400 billion tax theft every year, but the concerned authorities have taken no steps in this regard. He asked to withdraw excise duty from pharmaceutical industry. Abdul Wahid Soomro, Imrana Saeed Jamil, Salahuddin, Kishan Chand Parwani and Rana Afzaal Hussain also took part in the budget debate.