No relief for masses in budget, admits Qamar

Prime Minister, Chairman Senate and National Assembly Speaker were on board to cut their respective budgets, Naveed Qamar said, adding he was unaware of Presidency budget.     

Giving a brief of the welfare measures in the federal budget and its financial implications, he projected the relief measures for the welfare of the people in different forms in the new budget could cost the government Rs 398 billion, which is 32 per cent of GDP.

Out of this total amount, Rs 140 billion is projected as oil subsidy, Rs 89 billion allocated power subsidy, Rs 20 billion wheat subsidy, Rs 35 billion allocated for DAP fertilizer's prices increase from Rs 470 to Rs 1000 per bag, Rs 34 billion allocated for Benazir Income Support Programme with Rs 1000 per month for 5 million families, Rs 28 billion for Peoples Works Programme, Rs 6.6 billion under Baitul Mall for destitute widows, orphans and needy persons is projected in the budget.

The financial implications of 20 per cent rise in pay for government employees is projected at Rs 16.8 billion, pension increase could cost Rs 4.1 billion, 100 per cent raise on conveyance allowance financial impact is estimated at Rs 1.1 billion, national internship programme to cost Rs 1.6 billion and power subsidy to agriculture tube wells is projected to cost Rs 6.8 billion in the next year.         

To a question about taxes on sale and purchase of land and property, he said that it will be applicable only on developers of land and builders and not on sale and purchase of agriculture land.

Giving details of the Benazir Income Support Programme, finance minister said that an amount of Rs 34 billion will be given to the poorest of poor under the Programme, which will be later raised to Rs 50 billion. Under the Programme, cash grant of Rs 1000 per month will be given to each qualifying household through banks and post offices, he said.

About selection of the qualifying household, he explained that selection will be made through the computerized NADRA database under set criteria. The Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) will be used as well as their thumb impression to make it transparent, he added.

He said those who do not have CNIC will be encouraged to apply for a card free of cost and data will be continuously updated to include eligible households. Naveed Qamar said the beneficiaries of Benazir Card will also be provided, in due course, with other facilities like employment, skill development training for family youth, medical insurance and food subsidy.