Resuming budget debate in the National Assembly, he said the country was created through democratic struggle and its Constitution also ensures democracy. “Siege of democracy is continued. However, running the affairs of the country through elected members is a real spirit of the democracy,” he said.
Recounting five years achievement of PML-N government, the minister said the incumbent government made impossible things possible by completing host of development progress across the country besides bring peace and tranquility to restive areas including North and South Waziristan and Karachi.
He said he witnessed a new dawn in Miranshah few days ago where a state-of-the-art bazaar was inaugurated by the prime minister.
“Equipments and gadgets of terrorism were being sold in the Miranshah bazaar some five years ago but now owing to the sacrifices of armed forces and government commitment, the whole area has been purged from the terrorists,” he said.
Around 4,500 security forces personnel of one division had laid their lives for restoring peace in this area, he said.
Khurram said the country was put on path of progress and prosperity owing to the pragmatic policies. Efforts were made to carry out development projects in all four provinces during the last five years, he said.
He said 969 MW Neelum-Jhelum project which was considered impossible had already been completed and inaugurated by the prime minister last month.
New transmission line was laid for evacuation of power from the project, he added.
He said impossible projects like Tarbela 4th Project, Lowari Tunnel, Kachhi Canal, Sahiwal and Haveli Bahdur Shah and Bikki Power projects were made possible by the PML-N government.
He said untiring efforts of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and courage of voters have made all impossible projects possible.
On economic front, the minister said the country's exports witnessed sharp increase and achieved highest GDP growth of 5.8 percent in last 13 years.
He said China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project was launched in the country. Under CPEC, score of projects in energy and infrastructure sectors, port were completed, he said.
He said despite repeated attacks on the elected government to remove it unconstitutionally, work on PML-N development agenda remained continued with full swing.
Khurram said the government always respected judiciary and its decision and Nawaz Sharif vacated PM House within four hour after disqualification decision.
The PML-N workers accepted the court decisions and never block any road, he said. “We fully respect all institutions but no one should snatch our right of criticism,” he said.
He said PML-N was demanding for giving respect to sanctity of vote in the country.
Regarding National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman alleged allegation of $ 4.9 billion money laundering against former PM Nawaz Sharif, the minister said the World Bank had also rejected the claim. The State Bank of Pakistan had also rejected the report of World Bank in 2016, he said.
He claimed that trail of PML-N supreme leader was not being carried out rather it was trial of supremacy of the people.
Nawab Ali Wassan of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said his party always struggled for strengthening and supremacy of the Parliament and its leaders rendered supreme sacrifices in this regard.
He said PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari handover all powers to the parliament. He was of the views that the PPP always remained firmly stood with democracy and fully supported the government during sit-in in 2014.
Dr. Shreen Mazari of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf criticized the government for not bringing Federally Administered Tribal Areas into the mainstream due to blackmailing at hands of its two allied parties.
She also criticized the foreign policy of PML-N government and claimed that our relations with Iran and Afghanistan had been made further strained due to wrong policies.
She said concrete foreign policy could not be devised despite passing a unanimously resolution by this august house in 2017.
Participating in budget debate, Shireen Mazari criticized the government for abandoning Kashmir, saying no step was taken by the incumbent government to help its resolution during its five years tenure.
She said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) would be giving strategy in its manifesto for permanent solution of Kashmir issue in accordance with United Nations Resolutions.
She said that attack on Interior Minister, Ahsan Iqbal was a question mark on government’s claims of restoring peace in the country.
Ramesh Lal, while participating in the budget debate said that no scheme was announced for the minorities of the country. He said that the price of Dollar was Rs. 97 in 2013 which has no gone up to Rs120 during the PML (N) tenure.
Sabiha Nazir congratulated finance minister and his team for presenting 6th budget. She drew the attention of the house towards alarming growth in population, which she said needed immediate attention.
She also demanded withdrawal of leasing facility for cars to overcome the increasing traffic problems all across the country and also urged for banning the excessive smoke-emitting vehicles to come on roads.
She said that some people were politicizing South Punjab issue, saying that contrary to the claims of some political parties, the people living in that region do not feel any deprivation.
Shaikh Salahuddin of MQM while participating in the debate said that the government should have given tax relief for promotion of business in the budget, but it failed to do so.
He also criticized the amnesty scheme announced by the government and demanded the government to announce the names of those who intended to take advantage of this scheme.
He said that there was shortfall of 8000 megawatt electricity as the demand was 24,000 megawatt while the country currently was producing only 16,000 megawatt electricity.
He urged the government to take advantage of wind corridor in Sindh to generate electricity of around 50000 megawatt with wind.
Aliya Kamran of PML-N speaking on the occasion said that the government despite challenges have sustained growth. She urged that notwithstanding the weaknesses, the democratic system should be allowed to function in the country to help it development.
Col Amirullah Marwat of PTI claimed that the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were being ignored in development projects while Asiya Naz Tanoli of PML-N said that it was the first time in the history of the country that any democratic government was presenting its 6th budget.
She said that today’s Pakistan was better than the Pakistan of 2013, owing to prudent policies of the incumbent government and former Prime Minister, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
She was that Pakistan was on path of progress, adding that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor project (CPEC) was an example journey towards development.
She also demanded enhancing fund for Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal to help and facilitate the poor of the country.
Abdul Sattar Bachani of PPPP while participating in the debate said that the only way to lead the country towards progress and prosperity is to give equal attention towards small provinces. He said that the small provinces should not be ignored and should be given their due right.
Ghulam Sarwar Khan of PTI said that no relief was given to common people in the budget.
He said Pakistan economy is largely based on agro product but maximum subsidies given to agro sector in past has gradually been withdrawn.
He said Indian Punjab has been producing agri products to meet the demand of over one billion population due to provision of subsidies by Indian government. However, he said no such subsidies were being provided in Pakistan resulting import of various argi products.
He alleged that despite tall claims, the government has failed to end power load-shedding in the country and still areas were facing 10-18 hours load-shedding.
He said unfortunately all dams were politicized and no major reservoir was built during the last 40 years.
He said as per World Bank, Pakistan has among the water scarce countries but despite allocation of funds in PSDP, no physical work was started on any dam.
He alleged that people of his constituency were being politicized and no fund was released for the areas as PTI emerged victorious party from it.
Tahira Aurangzeb of PML-N said the incumbent government devised National Action Plan (NAP) in coordination with all political parties and restored peace in the country.
She said the government announced first film policy in the country to promote film industry. She said the government completed many power projects during the last five years to overcome power shortage in the country.
Rafique Ahmed Jamali of PPP said that maximum power load-shedding was being observed in Sindh and his constituency faced 18 hours load management.
He said holy month of Ramadan was about to start and the government should reduce power load-shedding in his constituency.
He also called for renaming new Islamabad International Airport as Benazir Bhutto International Airport.
Maulana Muhammad Gohar Shah of JUI-F said the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) government would not only implement Islamic governance system in the country, but would also take pragmatic steps to end “Riba system’. He also called for complete ban on liquor in the country.
Amir Dogar of PTI alleged that PML-N always victimized his political rivals and he was also indicted in a false case. He termed the budget a lollipop and said no relief was given to common people rather amnesty scheme was announced for plunderers.
He claimed no concrete step was taken to control unemployment in the country. He alleged that no relief was given to farmers, rather subsidies given to agri sector were withdrawn.
Kiran Haider of PML-N while taking part in the debate said new oil refinery was being set up in the country with an estimated investment of $ 387 million.
She said unprecedented development projects were launched and completed across the country during the last five years.
Qaisar Jamal from FATA said an amount of Rs.24 billion was allocated for FATA last year and this year no increase was made in the budget for population of 5.5 million.
He said no steps were taken for rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and empowering of tribal youths.
Maulana Qamaruddin of JUI-F demanded electricity and gas for his constituency besides highlighting the need for constructing dams. He condemned the attack on Interior Minister, Ahsan Iqbal and demanded investigation into the incident.
Surriya Jatoai said that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor was a good project, however the local people were not being provided jobs under it. Similarly, the oil and gas companies working in Sindh were not providing jobs to local people.
Dr. Nighat Shakeel of PML-N while participating in the budget debate drew attention of the house towards issues the Karachi city was facing, particularly the cleanliness problems. She said that the promise of mass transit system for the city was not materialized, urging federal government to do something for Karachi.
She also highlighted the importance of enhancing exports and riding the country from interest-based system.
Amirah Khan while participating in the budget debate said that majority of the country’s population comprises youth, urging the need that the government should ensure higher and technical education for them to tap the full potential of this population bulge.
Sardar Kamal Khan urged the federal government to provide its share for various road and development projects of Sindh province while Faisal Raza Abadi said that tax collection mostly depended on indirect taxes and urged that the people having agriculture income should also give taxes.
Surriya Asghar of PML-N said the incumbent government continued people-friendly projects including Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and also enhanced its budget manifold.
She suggested the fund of BISP should be diverted to kitchen gardening so the beneficiaries could be empowered.
Shamsa un Nisa of PPPP termed the budget anti poor and said that relief was given only to elite class. She criticized the government for presenting the budget by a non-elected person.
She demanded the government to give priority to water resources and construct more water reservoirs.
Musarat Rafique Mahesar of PPPP said 10 per cent increase in salary of government employee was meager and it should be at least 50 per cent.She claimed the government did nothing during the last five years.
Later the House was adjourned to meet again on Thursday at 10:30 am.