Shahbaz Sharif says budget will further increase poverty and inflation

Shahbaz Sharif says budget will further increase poverty and inflation.

Leader of the Opposition said this during National Assembly session at the parliament house in Islamabad on Thursday.

Speaker Asad Qaiser presided over the session.

Shahbaz Sharif says budget will further increase poverty and inflation

Continuing his speech on the budget 2021-22, Leader of the Opposition Shahbaz Sharif predicted further increase in poverty and inflation as a result of this budget.

He said proposed taxes amounting Rs 383 billion in the budget would add to the woes of the common man.

Shahbaz Sharif also opposed an increase in the GST of dairy products.

He said we should work together in the best national interest whilst keeping our ego aside.

He said responsibility rests with the government to reach out the opposition and create consensus on important matters for the sake of the people of the country.

20pc rise in salaries of the government employees

Furthermore, Shahbaz demanded of the government to enhance 20 percent salaries of the government employees.

The Leader of the Opposition also demanded the govt to fix the minimum wage for laborers at Rs 25,000.

He said beneficiaries of Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution should also be included in this proposal accordingly.

He also proposed withdrawal of new taxes on edible items and duty on import of baby milk powder.

Shahbaz said tax on LNG and RLNG should be abolished with immediate effect and electricity tariff should be reduced.

He emphasized on giving concessions to farmers’ inputs like fertilizers and power tariff for tube-wells of the agriculture sector should be brought back to the level as it was in the PML-N government.

He said sales tax on import of machinery should be withdrawn and all projects of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor should be made operational.

Demands

Moreover, Shahbaz Sharif said the Supreme Court has restored local bodies but the government has yet not implemented this decision.

He urged the government to implement the apex Court’s decision by immediately restoring the local bodies.

The Leader of the Opposition condemned restrictions on media and freedom of expression.

He said the Media Development Authority is a black law which needs immediate revocation.

Moreover, he also spoke on the Kashmir issue and Afghanistan.

Shahbaz Sharif said no decision on Kashmir should be taken without taking the Kashmiri leadership into confidence.

He underlined peace in Afghanistan imperative for stability, progress and prosperity in Pakistan.

He further said that we need extra care while handling these issues.

GTV