Taking part in the debate, Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party’s Senator Sardar Muhammad Shafiq Tareen on Thursday shed light on the challenges faced by the agriculture sector in Balochistan after recent flash floods and intermittent rains.
He appreciated the government’s allocation of significant funds for the solar system programme in Balochistan. However, he urged the government to prioritize converting provincial tube-wells to solar energy, aiming to alleviate the burden on impoverished farmers.
Senator Tareen expressed disappointment in the previous government’s Southern Balochistan Scheme, which failed to secure any funds for its execution, denying positive outcomes to the common people in the region.
He emphasized the need for effective implementation of development programmes to address the pressing issues faced by the people of Balochistan.
Awami National Party’s Senator Haji Hidayatullah Khan commended the finance team led by Senator Ishaq Dar for presenting a balanced budget during the critical times.
He suggested a far-sighted approach to provide financial relief to government employees, including an increase in pensions and wages to counter the inflation rate.
Senator Khan proposed granting 200 free electricity units to consumers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who had suffered significant financial losses during the war on terror.
He also advocated for a five-year tax exemption for the business community in Malakand Division, highlighting their contributions to the local economy.
Addressing the issue of interest-based systems in financial institutions, he urged the government to take substantial steps to eliminate the from the financial sector.
Balochistan Awami Party’s Senator Danesh Kumar expressed dissatisfaction over neglecting the proposals of the Upper House for improving the budget by the government. He urged the Chair to uphold the sanctity and privilege of the august House on that count.
Senator Kumar criticized the government for increasing the national debt in the current fiscal budget and called for a review of the defence budget, emphasizing its importance for Pakistan’s security and sovereignty.
Highlighting the lack of attention given to development projects in Balochistan, he shed light on the challenges being faced by the province since 2017.
He also raised concerns about the non-allocation of funds for minority communities in the budget, urging the government to address the issue.
PPPP Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi strongly condemned the May 9 tragic incidents, saying the “goons of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)” had tarnished Pakistan’s image globally.
He alleged that the PTI leadership orchestrated attacks on key installations, including the core commander’s house in Lahore, Pakistan Radio’s building in Peshawar, and Pakistan Air Force’s aircraft in Mianwali.
He called for stern action against the culprits and the masterminds behind the incidents.
Senator Tangi dismissed opposition’s claims about the budget, terming it pro-poor.
He urged the government to focus on expanding the tax network instead of burdening the people with more taxes. Additionally, he proposed categorizing the sale of petrol and diesel to alleviate the financial strain on the disadvantaged segments of society.