Opposition will not let NA pass budget, Shehbaz challenges govt

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif has thrown a challenge to the government declaring that they will let the passage of the budget from the National Assembly, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Resuming his speech over budget in the National Assembly on Thursday, Shehbaz Sharif said the PTI government could not build new Pakistan because its performance was devoid of actions.

Shehbaz Sharif’s speech spanned over three days now after it was marred by the hooliganism of the treasury members on the first two occasions.

As the National Assembly session began at last on Thursday, the members of the ruling party again tried to repeat the ruckus of the previous days but the speaker shut them down. They then in apparent protest left the house in small numbers.

Well-off people set up charities, government is meant for making policy to build a nation, Shehbaz Sharif said, adding that the government is not supposed to form a platoon of beggars.

The opposition leader said people are finding it hard to make ends meet in the so-called new Pakistan.

The wheat and sugar were first exported and then imported, but no one held accountable, he said

The finance minister claimed a record yield of wheat but his statements contradicted, Shehbaz said, adding that people queued up to buy flour bag in Ramazan raising question on the statement of the minister.

As to why the flour prices shot up if the wheat yield set a record, he said.

He questioned the unbridled surged in sugar price saying how the commodity price increased up to Rs100 per kg.

The opposition leader said the prime minister permitted export of 1.1 million tonnes of sugar and provided a subsidy of millions on the sugar export, wasting foreign exchange.

The Pakistani rupee has been devaluing, he rued.

The anti-covid vaccine could not be bought, he said adding that foreign exchange has been wasted.

This budget would be ridiculous if the people are not provided with relief from rampant price hikes, he said adding that this would be a joke.

He recalled the anti-dengue drive during his party-led government and listed the feats he achieved in his rule in Punjab province.

They (the government spokespersons) were claiming that no new tax would be imposed in the budget but a total of Rs 383billion tax has been imposed, he said and expressed his surprise at Rs 17percent sales tax on raw oil.

He claimed that Rs3,842billion was tax revenue in the PML-N rule while this government has nothing to do with public-friendly budget.

He reiterated the opposition's resolve to block such an 'anti-people' budget.

Earlier, members of the opposition parties agreed in their meeting with the National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser that the assembly’s session will commence at 2:30 PM Thursday.

Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry and Defence Minister Pervez Khattak were also present at the meeting. Both members of the ruling PTI and the opposition parties assured each other of keeping House’s atmosphere cordial.