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Tuesday March 19, 2024

Majority of housewives fail to understand jugglery of numbers in budget

By Myra Imran
May 27, 2017

Real issue is to make household budget within limited income

Islamabad

When experts on industry, agriculture, social sector and defence are having heated debates on different aspects of Budget 2017-18, housewives are only interested in how the budget 2017 is going to help in improving the household budget.

Majority of housewives, when contacted, said that they fail to understand the jugglery of numbers in the budget. “We are only interested in knowing how it will benefit the household budget but we have never felt any improvement in our living standard. It keeps on getting more and more difficult,” said Sadia Naseem, a housewife.

When asked about their reaction on increase in taxes over imported make up products, they said that it would have no impact on women. “It will be unjust to say that the decision is a bad news for women. More than 90 per cent of women in Pakistan use makeup occasionally. Our real issue is to make household budget within the limited income,” said Aneesa Anwar.

Already finding it hard to make both ends meet, overall, housewives were found disappointed after the announcement of federal budget for the fiscal year 2017-18 as they found no immediate relief in their daily expenses. “For us, the budget will be good when there will be announcement of decrease in taxes, utility bills and school and university fees,” said Anila Haroon while talking to ‘The News’.

Reacting to news of end in load shedding in 2018, they said that they will celebrate after it ends. “We have been hearing this since last many years. Let us see when it will be done in real,” said Anila. A mother of four, Saima said that her husband earns Rs35,000 and they live in a rented house. “Please ask the Finance Minister to make monthly budget for my house for only one month.”

On allocation of Rs121 billion under Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and increase of 10 per cent in the pension of retired government officials, women appreciated the good steps but said that it will affect only a small proportion of the population. “Middle class is hardest hit by the current economic situation. We don’t find any relief in the budget,” said Anila.

The federal government has proposed an allocation of Rs121 billion for Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) during the next fiscal year 2017-18. A total of 6.8 million people would benefit from the program. In addition, the families will be able to apply for Rs50,000 for business purposes. 

On the other hand, Amna Haseeb, a PML-N supporter, said that she is completely satisfied with the budget. “The government is working on many long term projects. The results would be visible in coming times. I think that in this situation, it was the best possible budget,” she said.

Aniqa Rashid, a student of business administration, was impressed with tax exemptions announced for business. “Everything is interconnected. If our industry thrives, it will affect the overall economy. The impact will finally reach general public,” she said.

Aniqa’s mother was not impressed with offers made in the budget. “For me, what counts is decrease in the prices of daily use items. The prices kept on increasing throughout the last fiscal year without any check” she said.

Those who work for private organisations failed to connect to the budget. “My income has not been increased from the last five years, but prices of household items increase everyday with even a tiny economic change. We were already worried because of increase in oil prices. I hope budget will not enhance our problems,’ said Shahida Saleem, a receptionist in a private organisation.