NA continues budget debate

ISLAMABAD : The Lower House of the Parliament Wednesday continued debate on budget 2008-09. Opening the speech, MNA Liaquat Ali said the government deserved appreciation for presenting the defence budget in the Parliament.
He recommended that the population planning should be re-organised to control the fast increasing population and to cater their needs.
Khalida Mansoor congratulated the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance for presenting best budget in the present circumstances.
She said agriculture is backbone of the country’s economy, and the government has to provide enough support to farmers to make them prosperous.
She said the government should pay heed to organic farming, and it would enable the country in potato, tomato and onion production and there will be no need to import these products from neighbouring country.
She said 15 percent sales tax on ghee should be reduced to five percent to give relief to common man.
The government should also focus on health sector, she said and added unreasonable restriction of media should be removed.
Dr. Nadeem Ehsan said budget 2008-09 is a deficit budget. The country is facing problems like food shortage, lawlessness, poverty, inflation, terrorism and extremism.
He asked the government to address these issues, and added that MQM would continue unconditional support to the government in this regard.
He said PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari is preventing the derailment of democracy and MQM leader Altaf Hussain in his meeting with Asif Zardari pledged that no conspiracy will be waged against PPP.
Riaz Fatiyana said the inflation is raising day by day, foreign exchange has come down and unemployment is on increase.
He demanded uninterrupted power supply at night to give relief to labour class.
He said “I have no objection on increase of number of Supreme Court’s judges,” and recommended that number of High Courts judges should also be raised.
He proposed that before finalising the next fiscal year budget it should be discussed in Standing Committees’ of the Parliament.
He recommended that ‘Zakat’ system must be streamlined, free health and education facilities should further be extended.
He said funds for sports have been reduced, which would also reduce the extra-curricula activities in the country.
He proposed reduction of interest rate on loans and withdrawal of taxes on food items.
Masood Abbas said the country is facing law and order situation while on the other hand the judges issue, which has no end, is aggravating the situation.
He said NWFP is affecting by law and order situation and there is no cooperation between federal and provincial law enforcement agencies to address this issue.
He said the government should give top priority to address the law and order situation in the NWFP and recommended that solution to this effect lies in parleys with the concerned people.
Rai Mujtaba Khalral congratulated the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance for presenting a balanced budget in acute economic crisis.
He said that Benazir Income Support Programme will provide relief to common man.
In order to facilitate the farmers the government should announce subsidized tractor scheme, which was launched by Benazir Bhutto’s previous government, however, he appreciated subsidy on fertilizer.
Khawja Sheraz Mehmood strongly condemned statement of Afghan President Hamid Karzai regarding entering Pakistan, and said that “every child of the country better knows how to protect Pakistan.”
He said food inflation is on increase, petrol and diesel shortage is aggravating the situation, these issues need to be rectified on war footing.
He said district devolution system should be abolished and its budget should be utilized on construction of highways, motorways and dams.
He recommended that special arrangements should be made for skilled workers and government should assist them to get job abroad.
Shahnaz Saleem called for enhancing budget for education and health. She said an industrial zone in southern Punjab along Indus Highway should be constructed as raw material including cement was available there. She said this will provide jobs to the people of the area.
She said funds for Presidency, which have been enhanced in the present budget, should be halved and the money thus saved be spent on those people who sold their kidneys and children due to poverty.
Shahnaz also said that car leasing through banks should be banned as it was bringing people under debt. Mufti Ajmal Khan said Islam was panacea to all the ills confronting this nation and no amount of budgetary allocations can solve economic issues.
He said the people of Karak, from where he belongs, should be provided with clean drinking water. He said two grid stations, already approved, have not yet been constructed and the people were facing shortage of electricity.
Syed Samsaan Ali Shah said the last government left the economy in shambles. He said more incentives are needed to boost the agriculture output which is the backbone of the country.
Fauzia Wahab said in July last year under a sustained campaign, the minds of the people were polluted against Benazir Bhutto who eventually lost her life in December.
She said after March 8, 2007, there were 56 suicide attack all over the country, which polarised the society and also took away Pakistan’s greatest leader.
She said Benazir was a symbol of liberalism, democracy and the world lost a distinguished leader.
The western borders of Pakistan, Fauzia said, have become weak and insecure as a fall out of these suicide attacks which the government must take seriously.
Referring to Afghanistan, she said the leadership of the people of the country whom Pakistan has been helping is now threatening us. She said the government must also take notice of his threats.
She contradicted opposition’s claims that her party was the party of feudals saying PPP in fact put an end to fedualism by introducing land reforms.
The feudal of today, she added, was not the one having vast land holdings, but the capitalists who have formed various cartels and are controlling country’s wealth.
She said one will have to fight these cartels who were stronger than feudals.
Muhammad Hayat Khan Tochi alleged the former government for destroying the country’s economy, judicial system and said it gave nothing to the poor.
He said that the rate of inflation was 11 percent according to the State Bank but actually it was now touching 13 percent and can destroy the country’s economy.
He said the interest on the small farmers’ loans should be written off.
Nighat Perveen Mir said the present budget has been made and presented
by a democratic government. She said the development allocations in the budget should be equal so that the backward areas could also develop.
Taking part in budget debate, MNA Ramesh Lal said, history of PPP is full of struggles against dicta.
MNA Mir Ahmadan Bugti regretted that everybody was talking of welfare of the poor but were indulging in criticism for the sake of criticism instead of bringing to the House, concrete proposals for uplift of the poor.
He described the nation as self-centered, opportunist and selfish and referred to the treatment meted out to the Father of the Nation in his last days, murder of Liaqat Ali Khan and hanging of Z A Bhutto.
He said founder of the nation, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan and the
creator of the consensus constitution, the nuclear plant and land reforms, were all either ignored or killed or hanged.
He held judiciary and generals responsible for it and said, it was only due to sacrifices of politicians that even today people remember them in their hearts.
He urged to uphold the respect of Parliament and said, let the judges be restored but keeping within the parameters of law and the constitution.
Bugti said were those generals not involved in the politics during their times who are today speaking against President Pervez Musharraf.
“Lt the politicians stand by democratic norms.
Bugti appreciated Zardari for promoting reconciliation and urged politicians to join hands for a strong democracy.
He demanded to give Balochistan people their just rights and said, in Dera Bugti, gas is recovered from four places but local people have no gas.
He also demanded upgradation of Dera Bugti hospital, compensation for those injured or killed in blasts in his area, restart Rs 10 billion development programs announced by the President for Dera Bugti and to spend 20% of total income in specific areas from where any natural resources are discovered.
MNA Abdul Qadir Mian Mithoo mentioned to selling of sub-standard pesticides in Ghotki district that were affecting cotton crop, and demanded to get pesticide samples tested from abroad.
He mentioned to poor law and order situation in Sindh as well as kidnapping and looting the people and demanded to issue free arms licenses for the people, enabling them to protect themselves.
He demanded trial of all those judges and generals whose abuse of power resulted in poor law and order situation, disharmony among provinces, confrontation between the forces and masses, and flight of capital.

MNA Mrs Aasia Nasir described the budget ‘most reasonable and balanced’ and congratulated the government for presenting such a budget at this critical juncture.
She termed to presenting defence budget in the House a great achievement and urged opposition to play a constructive role instead of mere criticism.
She appreciated increase in salaries and pension, housing scheme and increase in women quota in employment.
The MNA drew the government attention towards miseries of Balochistan people and thanked Prime Minister Gillani for promising Rs three billion special grant for the province.
She also appreciated efforts of the Prime Minister and interior ministry to improve law and order situation and to settle issues through negotiations.
Aasia condemned coalition forces action in FATA and asked the government to review its foreign policy.
She demanded increase in Rs 10 million development fund for each Balochistan MNA, electrification of rural area, special funds for MPs, increase in grant for minorities and strengthening institutions.
MNA Kishen Chand Parwani regretted that minority community was neglected in development programs, national census lacks their exact figure as in Sindh in some district half of the population is minority community.
He referred to successive governments and said, parties get vote from them but do nothing for their uplift.
“To say, we are their representatives but cannot represent them, as parties nominate us, not our community. We will have to rectify it,” he said.
He proposed true representation of minorities through a constitutional amendment and mentioned to abduction and conversion of minority people, urging the government to pay special heed to this problem.
Parwani demanded minorities representation in Evacuee Property Trust and ensure more employment opportunities and their appointment on higher posts.
He said even being an agriculture country we have to import wheat and cotton and added, price of DAP fertilizer is still beyond the reach of small farmers.
MNA Raja Mohammad Asad Khan said, the most appreciable thing in the budget is presenting defence allocations in the House in detail.
He said, under the constitution the number of judges could only be increased through an act of the Parliament ensuring equal representation from all the provinces. But, bringing the matter to the House in a finance bill is not the proper way.
He alleged the previous government of misappropriation of billions of rupees and said, only from KSE Rs 700 billion of the poor were fleeced and Pakistan Railways land was sold at throw away prices.
He also referred to assurance of the government to constitute a committee to probe it, but expressed fears that those who looted national wealth, had also permeated the ranks and file of the government.
Raja Asad said wheat was first exported and then imported on higher prices and demanded investigation against two former ministers and one other minister, who he added, is part of ruling coalition these days.
He said labour working at Mangla Dam raising project is paid Rs 4000 per month despite announcement to increase per month wages to Rs 6000 per month by the Finance Minister in the budget proposals.
He demanded to ensure increase for these laborers and set up an industrial estate in Jhelum.
About lawyers movement, he said, “our party held a long march. It did not burn the lawyers alive or killed political workers like in Karachi on May 12.”
“We are still committed to restoration of judiciary. There would be no retreat or surrender on it,” he said and demanded a treason case against the person who had deposed the judges.
He also mentioned to a statement of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer and said, a leader of his stature should hold workers integrity in high esteem.
MNA Nazir Ahmed Bhugio appreciated the proposal to recruit LHWs and provision of roti, kapra and makan to the poor, commended Prime Minister and Asif Zardari to bring the defense budget to the House in detail and demanded to restart Larkana villages electrification program.
He said the imported Prime Minister of the previous government had appointed people on contract on hefty salaries who should be terminated immediately and recruit people on less salaries.
He appreciated subsidy on DAP fertilizer and proposed involvement of elected representatives in budget making from next year.
Bhugio condemned ban on Geo TV programs demanding immediate restoration of these programs.
He also demanded resignations from the President and the deposed judges to end the judicial crisis in the country.
Taking part in the debate Asma Arbab Alamgir said that NWFP is in real trouble.
She said, “We condemn acts of bombardments wherever occurred. The people of NWFP deserve the same facilities which are enjoyed by other citizens of the country.”
She lauded the efforts of Prime Minister said Minister of Finance for presenting a “poor friendly budget.”
She expressed thanks to Prime Minister for announcing establishment of industrial zone in tribal areas and other relief measures. She called for revival of burn centre hospital at Peshawar.
Malik Ibrahim termed the budget “pro-poor budget” in shortest time and said that the democratic government took over charge in the jaws of crisis.
“Despite being agricultural country we are fighting with wheat and sugar crisis,” he said and recommended measures for strengthening of agricultural and industrial sectors.
He said regarding Benazir Income Support Programme he said in view of prevailing price hike situation this measure is not enough but it would provide relief to poor people to some extend. He further recommended strengthening of education budget.
Dr. Hayatullah Durrani said called for compensation to the affected people of military operation launched during the previous government.
He said the government should set up medical and engineering colleges in the province.
Meanwhile Faisal Saleh Hayat on a point of order said that despite the ruling of Speaker and assurance of leader of the House the officials of Finance Ministry were not present in the House to note down the recommendations of parliamentarians.
Minister of Labour Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis said that Deputy Secretaries and other officials of CBR and Economic Affairs were sitting in the parliament and noting the recommendations of the House.
Taking part in debate Raza Hayat Hiraj said the government should not repeat the mistakes of the previous government and take measures to provide maximum relief to the common man and address the problems of industrial and agricultural sectors.
Haider Abbas Rizvi said the government has imposed 400 billion rupees taxes on the public which would further increase their miseries.
He proposed the government has to make the country an industrial state as agriculture the backbone of the country’s economy has been broken down as “we are importing basic commodities today.”
He appreciated the decision of dropping Kalabagh Dam project and called for withdrawal of Rs. 1,50 billion from Greater Thal Canal.
He said the government should review interest rate on loans to be given under House Building Finance and sales tax on Ghee.
He said the garments industry was earlier given six percent rebuttal but this has been removed now, it should also be reviewed.
He said the condition of Super Highway is deteriorating it should be repaired on priority.

Shereen Arshad from PML (N) in her speech said that her leader who was forced into exile was an elected prime minister. She urged the prime minister that after their release, the judges should also be restored.
About incentives for women, she said special expo centres need to be established in rural and far flung areas from where their articles and hand-made articles can be exported.
Rubina Saadat Qaimkhani said that mistakes that were committed by the previous government cannot be corrected in short time.
She proposed that the name of under construction airport near Islamabad should be named after Benazir Bhutto as in India and the US they have honoured their leaders in a similar manner.
She said that long march by lawyers was their right and the credit for a successful march goes to Asif Zaradari and the party.
Rubina said the opposition and the ruling coalition should unite otherwise some dictator will take over the government.
Sheikh Aftab from PML (N) said he failed to understand the criticism by MQM over the budget as they are also partners in Sindh government.
He said Shaukat Aziz tried to run the finance ministry as a banker and had little knowledge of the people’s problems.
That is why, he added, he promoted banking sectors and helped them earn billions of rupees profit.
Abdul Qadir Patel paid tributes to Benazir Bhutto and said after her death the party was not ready to come into government. However, he added, that as desired by her late leader, the field could not be left open for usurpers.
He said he also demand incentives for fishermen in the budget as he was their representative in the house.
Waqas Akram Sheikh of PML (Q) said he admit that his government was responsible for a number of ills that the country was facing today but now that coalition had the majority they can correct it.
He said they are talking of restoration of judiciary but the attorney general is still continuing from the past regime.
Waqas said he admits that Lal Masjid operation was wrong but the then interior secretary is still continuing even today and has not been removed.
Dr. Sumaira Yasir congratulated Finance MinisterNaveed Qamar and his team for presenting a “pro-poor budget.”
She also felicitated Chudhary Shahbaz Sharif on his election as Chief Minister Punjab.
She said judiciary plays an important role in strengthening democracy in any country and called for restoration of deposed judges.
She criticised the previous government and said that it drummed up the slogan of ‘Para Likha Punjab’ with no increase in literacy rate.
She appreciated increase in education budget and recommended more steps for increasing the literacy rate.
She said fertilizer prices are going up in the country which is beyond the affordability of farmers, the government should give more subsidy on fertilizer.
She said medical allowance available to the government servants are less than the fee of any doctor it should be raised. Minimum salary should also be increased, she added.
She said turbines should be installed and other alternate energy resources should be explored for increasing the production of electricity.
Dr. Mehreen Bhutto termed the budget “balance and pro-poor.” She proposed that the funds of Kala Bagh Dam and Greater Thal Canal should be diverted to other projects.
She said students from interior Punjab should be given quota in Karachi universities and other educational institutions.
She welcomed 19 billion rupees allocation for health sector but said that there is huge gap between health facilities and growing population, it should be given attention.
Tariq Fazal PML-N leader from Islamabad said that the rural areas of Islamabad is still without basic facilities like provision of gas and clean drinking water.
He said the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is also focusing urban area of the Capital and paying no attention to rural areas.
He said people of rural areas of the Federal Capital should be give quota in jobs.
He said there is discrimination of salaries of Capital police and Islamabad Traffic police. This discrimination should be removed and all police officials should be given equal salary package.
He said the government should trace out the missing people and inform their relatives about them and if they are in jails they should be trailed.
Azim Doltana welcomed the budget and termed it “people friendly budget.” He proposed that education budget should be increased to raise the literacy level.
The budget should be gender responsive, and people should be informed that how much amount was spent for female and for male, he proposed.
He recommended that police system should be computerized to reduce the corruption rate in it.
In order to meet the energy crisis, alternate energy resources should be explored, he said.
Tasneem Saddiqi also termed the budget as a “balance budget.” She said education sector needs more budgetary allocation, adding education curricula should be uniform and there should be a commission to make plans for betterment of education system.
She said budget for sports has been reduced by three percent in this fiscal year, this should not be happened.
She said discrepancy in various police departments should be streamlined for better output.
Syed Ziauddin also hailed the budget saying the government has taken a number of measures to provide the relief to the common man and uplift of ever sector of the life.
He said people of Swat should be given compensatory package and also proposed withdrawal of interest on House Building Finance loans.
Taking part in debate, Iftikhar Cheema proposed to give subsidy to farmers on oil and electricity and proposed to ensure free education and health facilities for the poor.
He demanded to bring back ‘Double Shah’, a character who fleeced billion of rupees from people in the name of doubling money, and ask him to pay back masses money.
The member also demanded to ensure safety of people in his area from flood water that flows over the banks of river Chenab in rainy season.
He appreciated certain measures in the budget like Benazir Support Programme, increase in salaries and pension but declared incentive for farmers as insufficient.
He also demanded to set up a Cadet College in Wazirabad to impart better education to people in the city and adjacent areas.
MNA Syed Ameer Jamot appreciated the budget and congratulated Finance Minister, saying, no other document could be better than it, in present circumstances.
He drew the attention of the government towards providing immediate relief to masses and pinned hopes in Benazir Support Programme for uplift of masses.
He also appreciated measures in agricultural sector but termed them insufficient to bring ‘Green Revolution’ in the country. “We shall have to do more for it.”
He said the economic condition of small farmers is worrisome and those talking of feudalism should know that a plot in a city like is costly than a patch of land in rural areas.
He proposed to promote tourism along the coastal belt in Karachi, in Mohenjodaro and Bhat Shah areas in Sindh.
He mentioned to oil fields in his constituency from where he said 14000 barrel oil is produced daily but least amount is spent on development of the area and local people are denied jobs at the project.
Rana Ishaq Khan said, during previous government the country had bumper wheat crop but it was exported on lower price and later imported on higher rates costing Rs 45 billion to national kitty.
He held former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz responsible for this and demanded to bring him back and try in the court of law.
He said Rs 75 billion allocated for agricultural sector is insufficient and proposed if the water availability is ensured at tail, the produce can be doubled.
He proposed to widen the net of agricultural loans for farmers on lower interest rate and demanded recovery of written off loans and distribute the recovered amount among the poor.
Rana Ishaq also demanded flat electricity tariff for tubewells, increase in allocations for education and health sectors and install clean drinking water filtration plants in each of village in his constituency.
Nosheen Saeed referred to energy crisis in the country and said imposition of tax on telecommunication sector would deprive youth of their jobs.
She proposed to develop the shipping industry and said, when Pakistani experts can work in foreign shipping companies why we could not develop our own to earn revenue for the country.
MNA Chaudhry Saeed Iqbal appreciated the budget but demanded of the government to ensure levying tax also on plots in Defence Housing Authority schemes.
He said incentives for the agriculture sector were insufficient and demanded to ensure that only the real poor benefit from the Benazir Support Programme.
He proposed to set up a marriage fund for poor and orphan girls and ensure installation of water filtration plants for district Faisalabad residents as only three per cent people in the district had access to clean water.
Ghulam Farid Kathia said instead of cutting down the budget of the Prime Minister House and the Parliament, the government should review the defense budget.
He proposed to enhance the session duration of the House, provide maximum time to members to raise the problems of their respective areas and to live telecast the House proceedings.
He appreciated the conduct of opposition in reposing confidence in the Prime Minister and said, “it was their greatness. They have taken lead.”
He said initiatives announced in the budget can pave way to reduce poverty and mentioned to increase in salaries and pension, regularization of grade 1-15 employees, Benazir Support Programme and low-cost housing schemes.
He also demanded to upgrade the Sahiwal college to the status of university.
Israrullah Tareen said that subsidy should be given on installation of tubewells in Balochistan so that the wheat production can be increased in the province.
He was of the view that subsidy on DAP will not have much benefit for the farmers. He lauded the Rs 13 billion package for Balochistan.
Syed Muhammad Saqlain Bukhari said since October 12, 1999 the economic situation of the country has not improved. He praised his party leader Mian Nawaz Sharif and said the way he faced the dictator, makes him true successor of Quaid-e-Azam.
He said for government employees between grade 1-16, their pay should be increased by 30 percent instead of the present 20 percent along with an increase in their emoluments.
He said mixing of ethanol with petroleum products will help reduce the country’s oil bill.
Saqlain said the provinces should be given their rights and called for encouraging the private sector to help in the setting up of industries in the country.
Kashmala Tariq said that there should be more time for debate on the budget and it should be thoroughly debated upon in the house committees.
She lamented that the opposition has been asked by the government to bring cut-motions on only eight ministries.
She said by producing ethanol, country’s oil bill can be reduced by 20 percent.
Kashmala said the government should give priority to improving the law and order in the country.
Muhammad Qayyum Nara appreciated the government decision to bring the details of the defence budget in the house and said allocations for health and education need to be increased.

Taking part in debate, Faiz Muhammad Khan appreciated speeches of opposition members Raza Hayat Hiraj and Sheikh Waqas Akram and said, had they awaken earlier and supported lawyers movement, it would have been better.
He said the people who talk of constitutional validity of the President should bring an Impeachment Motion in the House instead of passing sheer remarks.
He said instead of cutting the budget of the Parliament and the Prime Minister’s House, the budget of President House should be slashed.
He appreciated winding up of the Kalabagh dam project, demanded promotion of tourism in his area and thanked on allocations for Hasanabdaal-Mansehra expressway.
Murtaza Javed Abbasi proposed to set up Basic Health Units at Union Council level and proposed to improve the education policy in order to bring educational revolution in the country.
He complained of neglecting the Hazara division during every government except Nawaz Sharif tenure and said, allocation to set up university in Hazara division were insufficient.
He demanded more funds for Hasanabdaal-Mansehra road and promote tourism in Galiat areas of his constituency.
He also drew the attention of the government towards hydel power potential in his area.
Nelson Azeem congratulated the government on peaceful Long March and said, it’s main purpose was to remind the coalition partners of their election mandate.
“People voted for the coalition on slogan of restoration of judiciary and impeachment of the President,” he said.
He appreciated the budget as an appropriate document in the prevailing circumstances but regretted meager allocations for minorities.
“Minorities had been neglected in the past and again in present budget, there are no sufficient allocations for their welfare,” Nelson said.
He demanded minorities participation in the development schemes, Benazir Support Programme and sought repatriation of the nationalized Christian institutions.
MNA Shakir Bashir Awan proposed that People’s Programme schemes should be executed in consultation with the elected representatives.
He mentioned to tourism potential in his district Chakwal and demanded electrification of rural areas and provision of clean drinking water to people.
He appreciated incentives in the budget for agriculture sector, increase in salaries and pension as well as continuation of Greater Thal Canal project by allocating more funds for it.