ISLAMABAD: (Parliament Times) The Senate resumed discussion on the budgetary proposals for the next fiscal year.
Participating in the debate, Usman Saifullah said the budget envisages no measures to address the challenges of unemployment, poverty and bolster the exports.
He said the government should formulate an industrial policy to generate employment opportunities and boost exports.
Ilyas Bilour said the government should take extra care of the development of small provinces.
He said the government should focus on exploiting hydel potential of the country to meet growing power demand.
Nuzhat Sadiq said different sources are being exploited including solar and wind to overcome power outages.
She said the present government has also given special emphasis to road infrastructure projects, under which the network of motorways has been expanded.
She was confident that these projects will bring genuine change in the lives of the people.
Dr. Jamaldini said it is encouraging to note that funds have been allocated in the budget for the construction of new dams which will also help conserve water.
He pointed out that Balochistan is rich in natural and mineral resources which need to be unearthed to remove the sense of deprivation of Baloch people.
Muzaffar Hussain Shah said there is need to give more incentives to the farmers in order to maximize the agriculture production.
He proposed abolishment of GST on all types of fertilizers and imported seeds.
He also suggested the government to rationalize the tariff agriculture tube-wells.
He pointed out that the cost of tractors is very high and there should be zero duty and taxes on import of tractors.
Gul Basra said salaries of government employees should be enhanced by fifteen percent. She described allocation of 24.5 billion rupees for FATA as meager saying forty billion rupees should be earmarked for the development of tribal areas.
Nihal Hashmi said credit goes to the present government for bringing improvement to the economic and security situation of the country.
He said all the economic indicators are on positive trajectory and the government is taking steps to transfer these benefits to common man.
He said funds of Baiul Maal have also been enhanced.
Mushahid Hussain Sayed appreciated the government for allocating 2 billion rupees for development of sports infrastructure.
He said the course of public diplomacy should be pursued regarding Kashmir and soft power projection of Pakistan.
Sehar Kamran expressed concerns over increase in debt level. She said that exports and remittances are also on the decline.
She said the government should pay attention to improve the lot of common man.
Sittara Ayaz, in her remarks, asked the government to regularize the services of contract employees.
Salahuddin Tirmizi said efforts should be taken towards checking the growing population trend.
He regretted the decrease in the profit rates of National Savings Scheme for senior citizens, saying it should be increased to address the woes of pensioners.
Saleem Zia welcomed the massive Chinese investment saying it will change the entire economic landscape of the country.
He said the country cannot afford any political misadventure as it will be disastrous for us.
