Shazia Marri criticizes budget and government approach in National Assembly

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Shazia Marri Sunday expressed strong reservations regarding the federal budget and the government's approach in the National Assembly, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Marri voiced her concerns over the lack of consultation with PPP on the budget, stating, "We were not taken into confidence on the budget."

She emphasized that sales taxes have traditionally been under provincial control and that the provinces have demonstrated their capability to manage these responsibilities effectively. "If provinces are doing well, why don't you give them the deficit?" she questioned.

Highlighting the absence of consultation on the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), Marri said, "People's Party was not taken into confidence even on PSDP."

She pointed out that while everyone speaks positively, mere words do not solve problems, referencing Article 156, which mentions the National Economic Council.

Marri stressed that PPP's alliance with the current government was based on an agreement that has not been respected. "If we are sitting with this government, we were sitting under an agreement. The agreement we made was not being respected; we want to work together," she asserted.

Expressing frustration over the lack of respect for PPP representatives, Marri noted that this compelled the party to raise objections. She mentioned a token walkout during the Finance Minister's speech, stating, "We had a token walkout on the Finance Minister's speech; we were not in the House."

Criticizing the budget formulation process, Marri said, "This budget was not made by taking Bilawal Bhutto Zardari into confidence. The Finance Minister should correct it."

She acknowledged the government's focus on taxes but urged a balanced approach, stating, "We want the tax net to increase but we don't want it to rub the salaried."

Marri also accused the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) of targeting tax-paying individuals while avoiding proper financial documentation.

She emphasized the need for collective sacrifice and questioned the government's indirect taxation, saying, "Everyone has to drink this bitter sip, which everyone has accepted, then everyone has to sacrifice."

She warned that the proposed budgetary measures, including increased interest rates, would shrink the economy rather than expand it, leading to contradictory steps in addressing non-tax revenue.

Marri highlighted the dire need to protect ordinary Pakistanis and hoped the government had a concrete plan.

She criticized the heavy taxation on the health sector, noting an 18% tax imposition, and highlighted the increasing prevalence of heart diseases and the strain on healthcare facilities like the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NIC).