Saif terms budget nightmare for poor

PESHAWAR: Advisor to Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations Barrister Dr Muhammad Ali Saif on Wednesday said the federal government had deceived the salaried class under the guise of providing relief.

“The salary increase is far too little compared to the rate of inflation,” he said in a statement, adding this budget was a nightmare for the poor segments of society. He expressed serious concern over the hike in taxes on petrol and electricity, warning that such measures would trigger a new wave of inflation. “When petrol prices rise, the cost of all essential commodities follows,” he noted. He also criticised the imposition of taxes on alternative energy sources such as solar panels. “These too have now become unaffordable for the common man,” he added. Dr Saif said this budget does not represent the interests of the common people, but instead reflects the priorities of the Sharif family’s business empire.