ISLAMABAD: The Senate resumed its discussion on the budget proposals for next fiscal year on Friday.
The House also offered fateha for the martyred soldier in Turbat. Senator Mushtaq Ahmed led the prayer. Participating in the debate, Senator Ejaz Ahmad Chaudhary said due to prudent policies of the government farmers have earned profit in all crops.
He said more than sixty five percent people in Pakistan are associated with agriculture which makes this sector immensely important. He said this budget will provide an opportunity to the farmers to avail easy loan facilities for purchase of tractors and other agricultural tools.
Taking part in the debate, Senator Mushtaq Ahmed termed the current budget risky and based on assumptions. He said this is not a budget which supports the poor segment of society. He said government has taken record loans and sixty percent of country’s revenue will be spent on payment of loans. He said people are suffering to get essential commodities.
Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar said there is no new tax on salaried class and minimum wage has been fixed at twenty thousand rupees. She said unprecedented facilities have been provided to the industry in the budget.
She said 260 billion rupees have been allocated for Ehsaas program. She said 100 percent utilization of funds was made in budget 2019-20 whereas 97 percent utilization of funds was observed in fiscal year 2020-21. Dr Sania Nishtar said stipend for the poor has been increased to 13000 per family. She said total number of enrolled families have been increased from seven million to ten million.
She said governance reforms have been introduced to make Ehsaas program transparent. She said Ehsaas Nashonuma program will be expanded to fifty districts. Speaking on the occasion, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said this budget is not in line of people’s desires. He said minimum wage announced in the budget is not enough. Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said Balochistan has been ignored in the budget. He demanded to declare Balochistan backward area and take action on emergency basis to end its disparity.