ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s lawmakers on Monday stressed the need to take measures for fair distribution of resources among provinces.
During the budget debate in the National Assembly, they emphasized bringing direct foreign investment and also providing education for the youth for sustainable economic growth in the budget for the next financial year.
They also urged to review of the 7th National Finance Commission (NFC) Award and fair distribution of resources among the provinces, which will make the country stronger.
The lawmakers also stressed providing more resources for the agriculture sector, which is the backbone of the economy of the country and also stressed enhancing the role of youth in the country’s economy.
Taking part in the budget debate, Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur, of PPP said that the government has presented the budget 2024-25 in a time of huge economic crisis and now the government needs to take necessary steps for sustainable economic development.
The PPP leader said that agriculture is a vital sector of the country’s economy, for which more allocation is required in the budget 2024-25.
Talpur added that the National Finance Commission (NFC) award needs to be revived so that the resources can be fairly distributed among the provinces. He viewed that the country’s economy and the federation will be strengthened by fair distribution of resources.
Ch Bilal Ejaz, of Sunni Ittehad Council said that more resources need to be earmarked for agriculture, education and health in the budget 2024-25. He noted that Pakistan has a large youth population and there is a need for more allocation in the budget for the youth.
Shahida Rehmani, of PPP, expressing her views said that there is a need for tax reforms and also to increase the tax net in the country, which will make Pakistan’s economy sustainable. The PPP leader said that the untapped resources of the country should be used for economic development of the country.
The lawmaker stressed for allocating more money in the budget 2024-25 to make the youth killed and educated.
Iqbal Khan Mahsud, MNA of MQM emphasized bringing direct foreign investment in the country at this time of economic challenges.
He said that currently, the trade councillors posted in foreign embassies of Pakistan need to be mobilized for enhanced foreign investment and export in the country for economic growth.
The parliamentarian said that tax was imposed on the salaried class in budget 2024-25 while there is a need to provide relief to the salaried class.
Participating in the budget debate, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmaker, Syed Abdul Kadir Gillani urged the government to provide a share of development schemes to South Punjab.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam MNA, Muhammad Usman Badini highlighted the underdevelopment of Balochistan and stressed providing more educational facilities for Baloch students like Lahore, Karachi, and Peshawar.
PPP Member National Assembly, Sehar Kamran voiced concerns over proposed increases in petroleum levies and electricity prices. She viewed that the private sector would face greater difficulties due to new taxes.
Sheikh Waqas Akram, a member of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), strongly condemned the proposal to impose surcharges on consumers using more than 200 units of electricity for up to six months.
