Members say fiscal layout prepared by under-19 team

LAHORE - After seeing less weightage being given to their suggestions and advices in the fiscal layout, Members Punjab Assembly from both sides of the political divide averred that the pre and post-budget general discussions were useless, and such sessions should not be held in future.
During general discussion on the Supplementary Budget 2008-09 here on Saturday at the Punjab Assembly, a large majority of the Treasury members spelled out elaborated speeches felicitating, appreciating and lauding Chief Minister and Finance Minister for presenting a tax-free and pro-poor budget. They repeated each other by using flowery language and flattering adjectives for their leaders. The rhetoric can be concluded as, “The steps taken by the government will yield positive results, bring prosperity, eliminate poverty and provide jobs to the people of the province.”
However, quite a few made it certain that they should call a spade a spade, and launched bitter diatribe against the government for not considering members’ suggestions, and preparing a budget, which to them, is the brainchild of bureaucracy.
Saeed Akbar Niwani was the first to take the government to task by averring that two days were given for reading a big bundle of budget books, which was impossibility. “Secondly, no body has considered our suggestions, which is evident from the concluding budget speech of the Finance Minister, which he delivered after four-day long discussion. If this situation is to continue, then I ask all the MPAs not to involve themselves in such an activity. Moreover, if our recommendations are not to be actualised, then there is no use of holding such general discussions. What is the use of wasting public money and time?” he questioned, while giving yet another suggestion that a 25-member house-committee should be constituted to properly note down the proposals given by the members. “Workshops and other training courses should be initiated for the MPAs so that they can discuss budget documents and present their proposals more effectively,” he added further.
In continuation of this matter, PPP’s Iftikhar Babar Khaitran, while endorsing Niwani’s views, said MPAs suggestions must be given proper attention for properly incorporating these in the budget. Besides this, he urged the government to take effective measures for stopping erosion alongside the River Indus near Layyah district. “Neither the media nor any one else is paying heed to the grievances of these poor farmers, whose entire lands, houses and other belongings are submerged into the river due to erosion,” he added, while demanding of the government to ensure provision of compensation, alternate residences and other facilities do these growers.