MQM presents Rs6.69 trillion shadow budget

Allocations include Rs40bn for Karachi, Rs17.5bn for Hyderabad and Rs20bn each for Mirpurkhas, Sukkur; calls for imposition of farm tax

Karachi

The main opposition party in the province, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Monday presented a Rs6.89 trillion surplus budget for fiscal 2016-17 at a press conference held at the Sindh Assembly.

Leader of Opposition in assembly Khawaja Izharul Hassan and MQM’s parliamentary leader in the house Syed Sardar Ahmed presented the salient features of the budget to media personnel.

The shadow budget estimated an income of around Rs20 billion for provincial govt in the upcoming financial year, only if it decided to impose agriculture tax – a long-pending demand of the MQM.

The party estimated the Sindh government to receive Rs425 billion from the federal divisible pool, besides its share of Rs70 billion as royalty on mineral resources and Rs20 billion from the centre in federal taxes; the centre could also give Rs23 billion grant to Sindh.

The shadow budget envisaged a package of Rs40 billion for development in Karachi, Rs17.5 billion for Hyderabad, while Rs6 billion each was reserved for Mirpurkhas and Sukkur – the other main urban centres of the province.

Ahmed while addressing the briefing called for a thorough probe, by the anti-corruption establishment (ACE), for the Sindh government’s squandering of Rs53 billion on subsidies by 38 administrative departments of the Sindh government.

He said the Sindh govt should present details of all such expenditures by provincial departments for satisfaction of opposition lawmakers of the house.

The parliamentary leader estimated the Sindh government’s General Sales Tax income in next financial year to be around Rs61 billion.

The MQM suggested keeping 16 percent GST valid for the upcoming financial year as well.

The parliamentary leader also opposed the Sindh govt’s proposal to levy tax on real estate in the province for residential purposes.

He asked the government to come up with a thorough plan to root out corruption from government departments.

Khwaja Izharul Hasan while speaking at the press conference asked to devolve financial and administrative powers and resources to districts in light of the 18th constitutional amendment.

A Rs150 billion development package was announced by chairman of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari but it was not spent on the city.

Terming the unauthorised expenditures of Sindh government as ‘Banana Leaks’ scandal, the MQM called for the expenditures to be investigated.

He slammed the PPP govt over presenting a budget for the ninth consecutive year while the province’s tales of development were horrific to say the least.