PTI leaders in Sindh terms budget people-friendly

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) leader of opposition in Sindh Assembly, Firdous Shamim Naqvi and its parliamentary leader, Halim Adil Shaikh have termed the federal budget for 2020-21 as balanced, people-oriented and farmers-friendly.

Addressing a press conference outside Sindh Assembly today, the PTI leaders also expressed their reservations about the budget-related objections raised by the parliamentarians belonging to Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz.

Firdous Shamim Naqvi highlighted that no new tax has been introduced in the budget for 2020-21 and that the PTI government also reflected upon its plan to revise the revenue collection mechanism so as to generate much-needed resources.

“One thing I know is that allocations for social net have been significantly increased,” he said mentioning that this is besides significant reduction in the duties to help stabilize local industries and strengthen different sectors that have been badly affected due to COVID-19 challenge.

“These are mainly a major source of employment for the local population,” said the PTI leader. Rubbishing those critical of the PTI government’s budget for the coming fiscal year, Naqvi said they perhaps want an absolutely tax free budget which is but an unrealistic desire.

“What they forget is that lack of will to pay taxes and paving the way to generate national resources does compromise independence of the country,” he added.

Urging that concerted efforts are needed to raise government earnings, for which a target of Rs.1.1 trillion has been set under the budget for the coming fiscal year, Naqvi regretted that opposition parties are criticizing this for sake of criticism.

Responding to a question by reports, Naqvi said the PTI government will not make any compromise to national defense requirements, particularly in view of hegemonistic designs of a country on the eastern border, nor will it go against its international agreement that required debt servicing.

Parliamentary Leader of the PTI and the party’s Central Vice President, Halim Adil Shaikh said the opposition leaders representing the elite segments of the country are critical of the budget as it would help bring into the tax net the luxury goods and non-development segments.

Terming the federal budget a major relief oriented intervention for the masses that too against series of challenges faced by the government Halim Adil Shaikh said achievements of the PTI during the fiscal year 2019-2020 can also not be ignored.

“PTI government successfully managed to return a significant amount procured as loans from different international organizations besides procuring no loan from State Bank of Pakistan during the same period reflective of a prudent policy of the government led by our Captain,” he added.

Sheikh said thousands of capable youth had been wasting their time to find government jobs, while all government posts were being distributed among near and dear ones of PPP.

The PTI leader said that the Sindh government officials tried to befool the masses through false claims, corrupt leaders would never identify the wrongdoers.

The two leaders belonging to Sindh on the occasion also discussed in detail the performance of the Sindh government and its inadequacies at the expense of public well being.

They also said conspiracies are being hatched against the federal government and there are disinformation drives about the state of the national economy and COVID-19 pandemic.