ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers in the National Assembly on Sunday praising the government for presenting a balanced budget in a difficult economic situation urged the authorities to review taxes on the salaried class.
Pakistan Peoples Party’s Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani while participating in the budget debate said that his party always worked for the welfare and uplift of the people.
He said that the PPP always worked for the welfare and protection of minorities and lauded the government for presenting the best budget in a difficult economic situation.
He also appreciated the government for not imposing taxes on medicines. He highlighted the problems of Tharparkar district and requested the federal government to address these issues.
Shahida Akhtar Ali from Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Pakistan said that the current budget cannot be called people-friendly. She added that the budget had been prepared under the directions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and it did not reflect the will of the people.
She asked the government to announce a long-term policy for the solar system and to allocate more funds for the education and health sectors. The lawmaker opposed the tax on the salaried class.
Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’s Ali Zahid said that his party had taken the government in a difficult situation. He claimed that the country’s economy always performed well during PML-N regimes. He mentioned the stock exchange’s extraordinary performance and the willingness of friendly countries to invest in Pakistan.
He said that the CPEC project, stopped by the previous government, had been reactivated by the incumbent government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He added that inflation has decreased due to government policies.
Syed Amin Ul Haque from Muttahida Qaumi Movement (Pakistan) appreciated the government for increasing salaries, pensions and minimum wages. He proposed that beneficiaries of the Benazir Income Support Programme should be given Rs 12,000 per month instead of Rs 10,000.
He said that employees earning Rs 120,000 should be exempted from taxes and that the tax base should be expanded. He supported a tax on the agriculture sector.
He also asked the government to promote mobile phone manufacturing in Pakistan and to improve health facilities in Karachi. He called upon the government to initiate urban development projects for Sindh Province.
Pakistan Peoples Party’s Nawabzada Iftikhar Ahmed Khan Babar said that the best budget had been presented in a difficult time. He thanked the government for not imposing taxes on solar and medicine and suggested that hybrid vehicles should be exempted from tax.
He also asked the government to review the tax on the salaried class while providing more incentives to farmers.
Senior leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party Syed Khursheed Shah said that the budget had been announced in a difficult situation. He said that the country is facing population issues that require urgent attention.
He proposed that the salaries of employees should be increased in line with inflation. He called for more funds to be allocated for the construction of water reservoirs.
