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Tuesday March 19, 2024

Public finds little relief in Budget 2017-18

By Khalid Iqbal
May 27, 2017

Rawalpindi

Public seems worried to hear budget speech of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar as poor belonging to different walks of life expressed strong reaction over the budget for 2017-18 with majority terming little to no relief for mediocre and below poverty line segment of the society in next year’s budget to put extra burden on their monthly expenditures.

The government employees strongly opposed budget speech rejected only 10 per cent increase in their salaries and pensions against more than 100 per cent inflation announced to come on roads from Saturday in this regard.

All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA), Railway Prem Union, Teachers Union, Civil Secretariat Employees Association and Wapda Hydro Electric Labour Union have strongly rejected budget speech of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar saying despite the government announced increase in salaries and pensions but 10 per cent increase in basic salaries was insufficient while the inflation ratio has crossed the figure of 100 per cent.

All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA) Central Chairman Chaudhry Muhammad Afzal and other representatives included Shahzad Kiani, Chaudhry Zafar, Chaudhry Mubashar, Muhammad Hanif etc. strongly rejected budget speech and announced protest demonstrations against it. They said that there was no relief for poor in the budget.

On the other hand people attached with poultry and mobile sectors appreciated government’s announcement regarding lowering down custom duty and taxes on both sectors.

However, labour community has out rightly rejected Rs1,000 increase in their salaries to Rs15,000 from Rs14,000. They bemoaned the apathy of the government in realising the factor as who could manage their monthly budget in Rs15,000 while 1-kilogram ghee was being sold in market at Rs180, cabbage at Rs100, sugar at Rs60, 1-liter milk at Rs110 and 1-kilogram tea at Rs800. How a common man could manage his life with Rs16,000 when 1-kilogram beef is selling at Rs480 and mutton at Rs750, 1-kilogram rice at Rs140 and a ‘roti’ at Rs7 and a ‘naan’ at Rs8.

Khuda Bakhash, a poor man, said that there was nothing for public in next year’s budget. He said that they were expecting a reduction in rates of electricity, gas, ‘atta’, sugar, pulses, ghee, meat, vegetables etc. However, we would buy all items on skyrocketing prices as per routine, he denounced. “I was anxiously waiting of budget speech of Ishaq Dar expecting some relief but vain,” he added.

Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) Vice President Asim Mehmood Malik said that public was expecting ‘People Friendly Budget’ for progress of the country. But, inflation ratio will further increase in the country due to cost of production and unnecessary taxes, he claimed. Once again, government has ignored ever-increasing unemployment in the country as Finance Minister Ishaq Dar failed to present strong and proper policy to end unemployment, he said.

People were anxiously waiting announcement to cut down Capital Gain Tax (CGT) which had been fixed at 10 per cent. They said that this tax has forced people to refrain from either buying or selling property. They said that it seems once again, sales tax and duty has hit the public hard and they will buy each and everything on skyrocketing prices in coming days. The 2017-18 Budget envisages substantial addition to taxation with a yield of more than Rs300 billion, equivalent to 0.8 per cent of GDP.

Amir Mehmood Shaikh, an economist said that there was nothing for a poor man in the budget speech. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar masterly written budget speech to befool innocent public that stock exchange recorded progressing, loadshedding will end in 2018, pure drinking water will be available in 2018, unemployment will end in 2018 etc. which means all work will be done in 2018. Public as per routine is paying 0.6 per cent on cash withdrawal, paying Rs25 on Rs100 mobiles load, paying sales tax on all items included food items as per routine, he denounced.

He said that as per new hidden taxes people would buy all items particularly cement, cosmetics, cold drinks, , mineral water, coffee, tea, marble, cigarettes, pulses, dry milk, drinks, butter, steel, shoes, clothes and several other items on skyrocketing prices in coming days.

As per routine, only the poorer community remained deprived of any kind of relief from the government while all other groups had always enjoyed various kinds of subsidies in the budget. There was a need for the elite class of the country to come forward and sacrifice for the nation because it has already earned enough as compared to its capacity, common citizens said.

All Pakistan Poultry Association (APPA) Central Chairman Khalid Saleem Malik has welcomed cut in custom duty and taxes on poultry items.

Nasir Mehmood Malik, a retired pensioner has questioned as where was relief for poor public in this budget. He said that people were already buying each and every thing on higher prices. Mini-budgets would appear from tomorrow as wholesale dealers and retailers will start looting as per routine, he added. He also said that 10 per cent increase in pension is nothing in this era of inflation.

Rawalpindi-Islamabad ‘Naanbais’  Association (RINA) President Muhammad Shafiq Qureshi said that they were expecting decrease in rates of ‘atta’ and ‘gas tariff’ but finance minister did not make any such announcement in the budget speech.

All Pakistan Traders Association (APTA) Shaikh Siddique said that common public was once again in grip of numberless taxes announced by finance minister in federal budget.