Taking part in the budget debate, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)’s MNA Sardar Muhammad Yousaf urged the government to make Pakistan’s financial institutions interest free with collective efforts.
He said Pakistan’s economic system should be transformed within the parameters of Islamic guidelines discussed both in the Holy Quran and Sunnah.
Sardar Yousaf said this paradigm shift would usher in a new era in the economic history of Pakistan and help bring financial stability in the social spectrum of the country.
Terming the budget decent despite critical economic conditions, he lauded the constructive initiatives taken by the incumbent government in 100 days to provide a sigh of relief to the people. He said the government made all out efforts to decrease the petroleum prices which has ultimately enhanced the purchasing power of a common man.
Sardar Yousaf criticized the bad governance of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and accused it for depriving Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s people from the fruits of Ch
ina-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He highlighted the injustice of KP government for not exercising local body in accordance with its mandate in the province.
He urged the PTI government to make KP a role model province where it is at the helm of affairs since last three consecutive tenures. He further said the lawmakers sitting in the opposition benches must respect the opinions of their fellows and listen them patiently instead of making hullabaloo without any logical reasons.
Concluding his remarks, Sardar Yousaf urged the government to provide free of charge electricity for Hazara Division as many dams have been constructed in the region.
Meanwhile, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC)’s Zartaj Gul, expressing dissatisfaction with the budget, raised her voice for the constitution of Saraiki province and sought development funds for Dera Ghazi Khan to bring it at par with other districts in the province.
In addition, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)’s Muhammad Shaharyar Khan Mahar proposed to introduce the tren
d of ‘pre-budget discussion’ for the inclusion of feasible suggestions in the budget.
He asked the government to enhance the radius of export to bring economic stability and provide ‘ease of doing business’ to traders and investors in order to take financial activities to the next level in the country. He, highlighting the significance of defense budget in the current circumstances, said ‘it is the matter of our security and sovereignty.’
To improve law and order situation in the country, Shaharyar Mahar said the government should launch an operation against the insurgents creating chaos through anti-state activities in various segments of the society for their ulterior motives.
He said the agriculture sector was already taxed but the issue was to collect it accordingly. He said the government should opt for alternative measures including hydro, solar, coal and wind powers, to meet the electricity demands of the country.
Shaharyar Mahar appealed the government to complete the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway und
er Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2024-25.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P)’s Syed Hafeezuddin condemned the incident held with Shehryar Afridi and asked the quarters concerned to conduct an investigation into the matter.
He also unveiled the double standard of PTI leadership due to which a number of parliamentarians departed from its previous government. He said the PTI should stop its malicious social media campaign against the incumbent government to earn public sympathies.
Regarding budget, Hafeezuddin urged the government to review tax slab particularly on the salaried class as they are already affected by the inflation. He said he would present proposals in documented form given by Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) to the finance minister for their consideration.
He emphasized treasury and opposition benches to stand united to resolve core issues of the country with combined efforts.