Daily Times

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Saturday criticised the constitution of a commission of inquiry to investigate a rise in public debts over the last 10 years.

While speaking in the National Assembly, Abbasi raised objections on the move, and asked how members of NAB, ISI and IB can question parliament and the budgets passed by the House. He said those who have no basic knowledge of economy will now review the decisions of prime ministers, parliament and cabinets.

The former prime minster questioned that how the government will achieve an ambitious revenue target of Rs 5,550 billion set in the budget proposed for next fiscal year. “The government has been unable to collect Rs 4,000 billion in the outgoing year, how will it achieve a target with an additional Rs 1,550 billion?” he wondered. “The only way [to achieve the FY2020 revenue target] is by further increasing inflation and prices of electricity and gas and devaluing the rupee even more,” he said.

Abbasi was also critical of the government’s decision to include those people in the tax net who earn more than Rs 50,000 a month, calling it ‘unjustified’. He said the government has lost the confidence of the masses. The PML-N leader urged the speaker to issue the production orders of two more MNAs – Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir – who are currently under police custody.

Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) MNA Rubina Irfan raised objections over the government’s proposal to deduct provinces’ share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) award in order to allocate more funds for the development of erstwhile FATA. “Balochistan’s situation is similar to that of the tribal areas,” she asserted, adding that she expects support from the PPP, MQM and PML-N over the matter.

Former speaker Ayaz Sadiq said the government has reduced the education and health budget. He said the government has brought down tax slab rates for salaried class, which will in fact decrease their salaries.

Syed Javed Husnain of PML-N said the government should promote tourism and agriculture sector to get rid of foreign debts. He said the government should pay special attention towards the welfare of farmers and formulate a proper policy with regard to agriculture.

PPP leader Mir Munawar Ali Talpur said the government has failed to overcome the economic crisis. He said PPP is ready to cooperate with the government to uplift the country’s economic situation. He also voiced concern over the increasing value of dollar against rupee.

Participating in the debate, Parliamentary Secretary for Railways Farrukh Habib said due to prudent policies of the government, the current account deficit has reduced. He said the government will provide soft loans worth Rs 100 billion to the youth to uplift their living standards.

Sanaullah Khan Mastikhel said those who looted the country must be held accountable without any discrimination. He criticised the previous governments for destroying the national institutions like PIA and Pakistan Steel Mills.

Sabir Hussain Qaim Khani emphasised the need for utilizing the natural resources to strengthen the economic structure of the country. He thanked the federal government for earmarking funds to establish a university in Hyderabad.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said the goals of progress and prosperity can only be achieved by laying the foundation of democracy on the golden principles of Islam. He said the entire world is now turning its direction towards Islamic banking system and Pakistan too will have to convert its banking system into Islamic banking. “We have to get rid of usury-based banking system. Many Muslim countries including Malaysia, Turkey and Sudan have moved towards Islamic banking,” he said.

The state minister said Quaid-e-Azam wanted to run the country on the principles of Islam and teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). He said Prime Minister Imran Khan also wants to build Pakistan on the principles of the state of Madina. He said every government wanted to prepare a people-friendly budget, however for the first time in 70 years, this government full fully implement the budget.