SYED DANISH HUSSAIN & MAQSOOD TIRMIZI
ISLAMABAD - Setting aside the customary criticism of the Opposition on budget document, even one of the coalition partners of the government - Muttahida Qaumi Movement - did not seem satisfied with the budget, as it said that a traditional finance bill could not come up with solutions to the economic problems facing the country.
Majority of the Parliamentarians, mainly belonging to the opposition parties, dubbed the budget as ‘old wine in new bottle’ and expressed their disappointment, as according to them the finance bill would fall short of the expectation of public at large because it had nothing to offer to a common man.
Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan commenting on the budget said it did not reflect the masses aspirations, adding that until Asif Ali Zardari was present in Presidency no one could expect anything good for general public.
Talking to media persons outside the Parliament House, he said over the period of time rulers remained flop to resolve burning issues and today they (rulers) were unnerved like a gambler who has lost everything.
“Yesterday, Finance Minister during a press conference conceded the government’s failure on economic front but today the same person was presenting budget on the floor of the House. This practice is amounted to the frivolous attitude of the government.”
Chaudhry Nisar said currently consortium of corruption is highly active in the country that was hindering the flow of resources to the masses. He said his party had continuously been protesting in and outside of the Parliament but the government became dump and deaf towards the masses needs.
Admitting that the PML-N’s noisy protest in the National Assembly during the budget speech of Dr Abdul Hafiz Sheikh was inappropriate, Leader of the Opposition said PML-N was left with no option other than this one to convey the masses hue and cry to the rulers.
He said PML-N would continue to protest on the same patron in the Parliament until the incumbent rulers were present in assemblies. He said to launch a massive protest campaign a meeting of PML-N’s central leaders has also been called on Monday.
Leader of the Opposition said that after the presentation of budget for fiscal year 2011-12, PML-N has submitted over 100 cut motions in this regard but not even a single one was accorded approval by the federal government.
Dr Farooq Sattar of MQM termed the budget as traditional one. “Economic stability in the country calls for the preparation of non-traditional budget keeping in mind the ground realities.”
He said country’s economy was on the verge of collapse, while electricity and gas loadshedding, unemployment and poverty have made life harder for the poor and middle class of the society.
He called upon the government to slash indirect tax (sales tax) at least by four per cent and imposition of direct taxation land incomes. He said by providing subsidy in energy and development sector government could achieve better results.
Terming the electricity crises as the biggest problem of the country, Dr Farooq Sattar said if government wanted to give a chance to common people then it should work to reduce the cost of production and withdrawal the petroleum development levy. He added that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has assured his party leaders that the government should look into the reservations of MQM regarding budget. “Today a proposed budget has been presented by the government and PM has assured us that implementable portions of MQM’s shadow budget presented few days ago would be made part of final budget document after debate over it in the National Assembly.”
Haji Adeel of ANP, the most trusted ally of the ruling PPP, said at a time when country was confronting several challenges including law and order situation, energy crises etc it was the best possible budget. He said after detailed deliberations over budget his party would suggest recommendations to the government to make it better.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting while commenting on the budget for the fiscal year 2012-13 said that the government has tried its best to give maximum relief to the people during this financial year.
He said there would be no mini budget and neither the government would go for more loans in this fiscal year. Kaira further said the government needs majority to pass this budget. “We are afraid of anyone. We have the majority and we will pass the budget with it. We tried that this budget could be prepared while taking the opposition on board but unfortunately they did not show any intension. Announcing the non-party based local bodies elections, the Punjab Government has slapped on the face of Charter of Democracy,” Kaira added.   
To a question, the Minister said Finance Minister during the cabinet meeting held just before the budget session assured the cabinet that all required funds would be released to produce maximum electricity while the government would also promote solar technology in the country. He said it was true that the government could not meet all the targets, however the improvement was seen. He further said that after the 18th Amendment the budget of the federal Government has not as much importance as the provincial budgets have.
Talking about the protest of PML-N, he said that the mastermind of this protest was sitting on the backbenches of the Parliament, as he remained sitting in his house during Musharraf tenure. To a question regarding this protest, Kaira said that the rules were available according to that the Speaker National Assembly can take action against PML-N for their attitude during the session however the people will take real action against them n next elections.
Central leader of JUI-F Maulana Ata Ur Rehman termed this budget as an old wine in a new bottle and said that the people have to keep facing the same issues as they were facing from the last 4 years. He added that the economic situation of the country was rapidly decreasing.
Secretary Information of PML-Q Likeminded Kashmala Tariq however said that all the representatives of the people of Pakistan was not taken into confidence on the budget and neither it was presented in the finance committee of the National Assembly as it could give some suggestions in it. This budget is presented while by passing the Parliament, She said. She added that the Government has failed to impose tax on agriculture and to extend its tax net as was being expected by the Government.
While giving comments on the budget, Chairman PPP- Sherpao Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao said that it was the most pessimistic day for the people of the country as there was no such relief for the common man in the budget. He added that this Government has taken record loans in its last four years while it could not meet its targets.
Senator Kamil Ali Agha of Q-League while commenting on the budget said that it was a balanced budget but was also pessimistic on some grounds as the Government did not announce any project to produce cheap electricity and neither it has given any permanent solutions to solve other issues including unemployment and inflation.
Commenting on the PML-N protest, he said that it was against the Parliamentary norms and as an opposition party they should peacefully listen the budget and then give their suggestions in it.
A Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson has also termed the annual budget exercise meaningless on the basis of the performance statistics released by the Government the other day.