NA budget debate starts today

ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah will open the budget debate today (Monday) in the National Assembly which is expected to continue for next 10-days.
The opposition has already rejected the budget as ‘anti-poor’ and is expected to take a hard position in the National Assembly. Syed Khursheed Shah is likely to raise the issues of a paltry 7.5 percent raise in salaries and pensions and withdrawal of wheat subsidy for Gilgit-Baltistan.
Prior to the National Assembly session the House Business Committee will meet under Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to decide about the procedure and schedule for passage of the budget.It is expected that all the parliamentary parties will get a time to take part in the discussion as per their strength in the Lower House of Parliament.
The government wants to get approval of the budget from the National Assembly by June 22 but the opposition wants that maximum time should be given to thoroughly debate the budget proposals.
Syed Khursheed Shah has approached all opposition parties for adopting a joint stance on the budget and the parliamentary opposition will hold a meeting on Tuesday to formulate a joint strategy on the budget.
APP adds: The National Assembly and Senate will resume their sessions separately here at the Parliament House on Monday at 4pm and 3pm respectively.Both the Houses will begin debate on the federal budget for the next financial year.