PPP, MQM trade barbs in NA budget session

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly proceedings on Tuesday witnessed an exchange of harsh remarks between parliamentarians from two government allies — Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) -- during the speech of PPP member Shazia Marri on the federal budget.

“Karachi is very much part of the Sindh province and no one can separate it from the province,” Shazia said. MQM’s Asiya Ishaq rushed to Aseefa Bhutto Zardari to register protest over the PPP parliamentarian’s remarks. MQM member Javed Hanif remarked: “You abandoned Karachi and are now threatening us.” Shazia said if Hafizabad, Gujranwala and other cities could not be separated from Punjab, why Karachi, Hyderabad and Mirpur Khas are considered entities separate from Sindh.

The PPP parliamentarian, while complaining that none of development schemes of the abolished Pak PWD have been transferred to the Sindh province, asked the federal government to stop treating Sindh as its colony. “Read the Constitution. Sindh is a province and federating unit of Pakistan and not its colony,” the PPP parliamentarian said, adding that the federal government transferred development schemes of the Pak PWD to three other provinces, but the same was not done in case of Sindh. How the federal government can handle the schemes of a province, she said.

Shazia said the imposition of 2.5 per cent carbon levy would badly impact the common man, particularly those who use public transport. She opposed the proposal to impose 18 per cent GST on solar panels. At the same time, she gave a clear message that her party would not allow the government to pass the budget as it is. However, she said that opposing any of the government decisions would not create anarchy in the country.

The two main allies of the PMLN-led government in the Centre have been at loggerheads since the start of the budget session. On Monday, another PPP MNA Nabeel Gabol advised the MQM leadership to change their party’s name to MQMN for blindly supporting every government decision.

Shazia pointed out that two federal budgets have been announced, one by the finance minister and the other, which is a shadow budget, by Khalid Maqbool. She regretted that the government has failed to announce increase in minimum monthly wages.

Taking part in discussion, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan of PTI said the federal budget had not been announced while keeping in view the problems of people.

He said the government has also not been able to start major projects or provide relief to the masses, adding that the largest percentage of population was living in Pakistan below the poverty line. He demanded that people earning up to Rs2,200,000 should be exempt from tax and that the budget should allocate funds for emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, as it is essential. He suggested that there should be no stamp duty on sale and purchase of property. He contested the government claims of reducing the inflation rate to 3.7 per cent.

Shahida Akhtar Ali of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Pakistan (MMAP) demanded a special risk allowance for fighter pilots and greater relief measures for low-income groups. She stressed the need to reduce income tax for the salaried class.

Mian Khan Bugti of PMLN commended Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for allocating substantial funds to improve Balochistan’s road infrastructure. Aminul Haque of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan welcomed key economic indicators such as decline in inflation, rupee stabilization and 31% rise in remittances.

However, he criticized the provincial government’s neglect of urban centres and called for a dedicated development package for Karachi and Hyderabad.

Tehmina Daultana called for special steps for women empowerment. Anwar Ali Taj proposed conducting a new survey of the BISP to include more deserving people. Nikhat Shakeel Khan proposed the best transport facilities to the residents of Karachi.

Minister for Water Resources Moeen Wattoo congratulated the government’s financial team for presenting an ideal budget. He emphasized the government’s commitment to enhancing the country’s water storage capacity, allocating 130 billion rupees for this purpose.